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Social Engineering

Social Engineering is a strategy which presents options or information that causes a user to be more likely to perform a specific action based on their individual and/or social cognitive biases, thereby leveraging a user's desire to follow expected or imposed social norms
Social Engineering
Illustration

Interaction Contexts

  • consent

Harmed Goals

  • comprehension
  • control

Symbiosis

Bright alternatives to this dark pattern

  • Fairness
    Ensures ethical treatment of users through transparent practices and respect for user autonomy.
    View pair →

Examples

Evotech

Source
The user has a choice between "Get Discount" and "No, thank you. I'm happy to pay more"
The user has a choice between "Get Discount" and "No, thank you. I'm happy to pay more"

Selfmade Example

A countdown timer pressures the user into accepting the upgrade offer
A countdown timer pressures the user into accepting the upgrade offer

Manlykicks

Source
Advertising is done with an incorrect (consistently unchanged) order quantity.
Advertising is done with an incorrect (consistently unchanged) order quantity.

Seesepro

Source
Three testimonials advertising a product advertised as new and authentic
Three testimonials advertising a product advertised as new and authentic

Selfmade Example

The user is pressured into singing up by saying that the user will waste money if missing out
The user is pressured into singing up by saying that the user will waste money if missing out

Pattern Levels

High-Level Patterns Strategy Domain & Context Diagnostic (abstract)

High-level patterns include general strategies that can be employed through a range of modalities and technologies and application types

Meso-Level Patterns Angle of Attack Domain & Context Diagnostic (interpretable)

Meso-level patterns describe a context-agnostic angle of attack and may be interpreted in relation to context based on the specific modality or application type

Low-Level Patterns Means of Execution Domain & Context Specific (situated)

Low-level patterns are situated and contextually dependent, including specific means of execution

Diagram: High (strategy, diagnostic), Meso (angle of attack, still diagnostic), Low (means of execution, context specific). Integrated textual descriptions appear within each layer.

Source not found.
Paul Bertram 2026
Impressum Datenschutz

Source not found.

Sources

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Pattern Levels

High-Level Patterns Strategy Domain & Context Diagnostic (abstract)

High-level patterns include general strategies that can be employed through a range of modalities and technologies and application types

Meso-Level Patterns Angle of Attack Domain & Context Diagnostic (interpretable)

Meso-level patterns describe a context-agnostic angle of attack and may be interpreted in relation to context based on the specific modality or application type

Low-Level Patterns Means of Execution Domain & Context Specific (situated)

Low-level patterns are situated and contextually dependent, including specific means of execution

Diagram: High (strategy, diagnostic), Meso (angle of attack, still diagnostic), Low (means of execution, context specific). Integrated textual descriptions appear within each layer.