Pseudo-Set Framing groups a set of items or tasks together as a set. The idea of completing a ‘set’ alters people’s perceptions and encourages people to pursue the perceived completion without real reward. The idea is very similar to The Collector’s Fallacy.

Marketers can capitalise on this idea and sell arbitrary products that belong to an apparent ‘set’.

References

  • Barasz, K., John, L.K., Keenan, E.A. and Norton, M.I. (2017). Pseudo-set framing. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 146(10), pp.1460–1477. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000337.