The Hook

Previous Post: Presentation

In the previous posts, the concepts of Communication and Presentation were described and discussed with regard to Experience.  In this post, the Lens of the System of Experience is used to examine a common narrative device, The Hook.  Everyone should feel encouraged to join the discussion and comment on or debate the assertions presented. All relevant comments are welcome and appreciated.

The Hook

As an example of a typical experience design element, the Hook can be defined within the system of Experience as a Presentation of a concept that is easily associated with audience preconceptions so as to establish Reliability; one that simultaneously implies, without direct association, a broader application of the new concept to many other preconceptions.  In other words, the Hook is a Presentation of a concept that is easily assimilated by the audience, resulting in a measure of Understanding; while the scope of the concept’s potential impact on Experience as a whole is deliberately obscured.  In terms of the system of Experience, the audience preconceptions allow the Presentation of the Hook to establish Reliability and support the novel Understanding of the concept; while at the same time the implied associations to related concepts pose an Efficiency burden, requiring Attention and directing Motivation to define and reconcile those potential associations.  In this way, the Hook is used as a method of directing Attention and shaping Motivation.  A particularly effective Hook will conjure a Prediction of Efficiency in the mind of the audience, where the implied scope of the concept’s interconnectivity will lead the audience to believe that the scope will yield a significant Efficiency trade off if Attention is paid.

Next Post: Accessibility and Usability

Sentiology?