Scarcity
The psychological principle that limited availability increases perceived value.
Also known as: Limited availability, FOMO trigger
Category: Cognitive Biases
Tags: psychology, cognitive-biases, concepts
Explanation
Scarcity is the principle that things become more desirable when they're in limited supply. This cognitive bias influences behavior in many contexts - from marketing (limited-time offers) to productivity (deadline pressure). In PKM, understanding scarcity helps recognize when it's being used to manipulate (FOMO-inducing newsletters) and when it's genuinely useful (using deadlines to create focus). Time is genuinely scarce, making it essential to be intentional about how it's spent.
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