Persuasion and Psychology Flashcards
7 cards from real Sales Copy practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Persuasion and Psychology flashcards as text
Which cognitive bias makes consumers value an item more simply because they own it?
Answer: Endowment effect
The endowment effect causes people to overvalue things they already possess, which is why free trials and 'keep the gift' offers are so effective.
A sales page uses the phrase 'Join 47,293 happy customers.' This is an example of:
Answer: Social proof
Specific, large numbers in testimonial counts leverage social proof — the psychological tendency to follow the behavior of the crowd.
The 'foot-in-the-door' technique works because of which psychological principle?
Answer: Commitment and consistency
Once people agree to a small request, their need to stay consistent with that self-image makes them more likely to agree to larger requests.
Showing a crossed-out original price next to a sale price primarily activates:
Answer: Anchoring and contrast
The original price acts as an anchor, making the sale price feel dramatically lower by contrast — even if the original price was inflated.
Which emotional state does urgency copy ('Offer ends in 2 hours') primarily trigger to drive action?
Answer: Loss aversion
Urgency triggers loss aversion — the fear of missing out on the deal feels more painful than the potential gain feels pleasurable.
A copywriter opens an email with a free checklist before asking for a purchase. This applies which Cialdini principle?
Answer: Reciprocity
Giving something valuable first creates a subconscious obligation in the recipient to reciprocate, increasing the likelihood they'll buy.
The phrase 'As seen on Forbes, CNN, and Inc.' uses which persuasion lever?
Answer: Authority and credibility transfer
Associating a brand with trusted authorities transfers their credibility to the product, reducing skepticism through borrowed authority.