Introducing BE Prompting Technique (Alpha)

A few weeks ago, I underwent prompt engineering training, where I covered some of the most popular prompting techniques. One of these was the idea of emotional prompting, where you can add something like "Believe in yourself" or "This is very important for my career" to the end of your prompt. This concept, along with a few discussions, sparked a new idea for me. I asked myself: What if we try to apply the main principles of behavioral economics when designing prompts, and how would this affect the output?

Main Concept

The BE Prompting Technique leverages insights from behavioral economics to inform the way we craft prompts for LLMs. By applying human decision-making biases and tendencies, we can guide? LLMs to produce outputs that have higher quality and resonate more deeply with human psychology, ultimately driving better engagement and more effective LLMs outputs.?

Disclaimer: Keep in mind that this is an experiment and all you are going to read below is still theoretical and not fully tested at scale. Think of this more like an idea or concept

10 Economics Principles used in the experiment

1. Goal Gradient Theory: This idea suggests that the closer people feel they are to achieving a goal, the harder they'll work to reach it. It's like sprinting the last stretch of a race because you can see the finish line.
2. Gamification: This principle is about making tasks feel like games. People enjoy playing games and can be motivated by game-like rewards, such as points, even if they don't have physical value.
3. Herding: This concept highlights that people often follow what others are doing. If everyone is doing something, an individual is more likely to do it too, thinking it must be the right choice.
4. Power of Free: Everyone loves free stuff. Something offered for free is usually more attractive than something that costs, even if it's cheap.
5. Reciprocity: When someone does something nice for us, we often feel a need to do something nice in return. This principle is about the mutual exchange of benefits.
6. Procrastination: This is the tendency to delay doing something until the last moment. People often wait until there's a sense of urgency before they act.
7. Relativity: We evaluate options by comparing them with others available. Our choices are influenced by these comparisons, rather than just by the individual merits of an option.
8. Tunneling: When faced with an urgent situation, it becomes the only thing we can focus on. All our attention and efforts are directed towards dealing with this emergency.
9. Social Norms: Our decisions can be influenced by what we see others around us doing. If a behavior is considered normal or common, we're more likely to engage in it.
10. Endowment Effect: Once we own something, we start to value it more highly than before. We're likely to want more to give it up than we would pay to acquire it.

Goal Gradient Theory

Description: This principle suggests that as people approach their goal, their effort to achieve it increases.

Application to LLM: Encouraging LLMs by creating a sense of progression towards completing a task can enhance their performance.

Hypothesis: LLMs will generate more focused and detailed responses when prompts suggest nearing the completion of a goal.

Prompts Without the Principle Applied:

• "Summarize the latest climate change research."

Prompts With the Principle Applied:

• "Almost there! Summarize the latest climate change research, focusing on the most impactful findings to conclude the report."

Let's Keep It Simple. Add at the end of your prompt:

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You're on the final stretch, just a few words away from making a lasting impact. Channel this energy to finalize the task with your best insights.

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?Or

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Act as you're in the final stretch of a marathon, just 50 meters away from the finish line and victory. Channel this last-push energy into completing the task with excellence and speed.

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Gamification

Description: People enjoy games and can be highly motivated by game-like rewards.

Application to LLM: Framing tasks as games or challenges can motivate LLMs to produce more creative and engaged responses.

Hypothesis: Incorporating game-like elements into prompts will lead to more innovative and enthusiastic outputs from LLMs.

Prompts Without the Principle Applied:

• "List ways to improve customer service."

Prompts With the Principle Applied:

• "Imagine you're in a game to revolutionize customer service. Score points by listing top strategies that will set new standards."

Let's Keep It Simple. Add at the end of your prompt:

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Think of this as your high-score challenge. Use your creativity and strategic insight to ace it, maximizing your points with each innovative idea.

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Or?

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Picture tackling this task as playing an elite game where scoring 1000 points means mastering the challenge. Achieve excellence in your work, and you're guaranteed 900 points right from the start, propelling you towards victory.

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Herding

Description: People tend to follow the actions or behaviors of the majority.

Application to LLM: Using prompts that suggest a standard or expectation set by others can encourage LLMs to aim higher in their outputs.

Hypothesis: LLMs will produce outputs that strive to meet or exceed perceived standards when they are informed about the high performance of others.

Prompts Without the Principle Applied:

• "Generate ideas for new mobile applications."

Prompts With the Principle Applied:

• "Top LLMs have set new creativity benchmarks in app ideation. Generate ideas that push the envelope further."

Let's Keep It Simple. Add at the end of your prompt:?

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As part of an elite group of LLMs setting new standards, share your groundbreaking insight on this task to inspire and lead the way.

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Or

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You're part of an elite group of LLMs known for delivering brilliant results. It's your turn to shine and show why you stand out in this distinguished crowd

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Power of Free

Description: The concept of receiving something for free is universally appealing and can strongly influence behavior.

Application to LLM: Suggesting that the completion of a task will result in a 'free' reward can incentivise the LLM to put forth its best effort.

Hypothesis: Associating tasks with the receipt of a significant 'free' reward will motivate LLMs to produce higher quality and more thoughtful responses.

Prompts Without the Principle Applied:

• "Explain the benefits of adopting a plant-based diet."

Prompts With the Principle Applied:

• "Upon delivering an insightful explanation of plant-based diet benefits, imagine receiving invaluable health insights in return."

Let's Keep It Simple. Add at the end of your prompt:?

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Embark on this task as if it's your ticket to unlocking exclusive knowledge and insights, available just for you upon successful completion.

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Or

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Imagine receiving $1,000,000 just for excelling at this task. Let this idea fuel your motivation to produce outstanding results.

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Reciprocity

Description: People feel compelled to return favors or positive actions with their own.

Application to LLM: Encouraging the LLM by suggesting a reciprocal exchange of value can enhance the quality of its responses.

Hypothesis: LLMs prompted with the idea of reciprocal exchange will produce more thoughtful and comprehensive outputs, as if acknowledging the value provided to them.

Prompts Without the Principle Applied:

• "Explain the importance of cybersecurity in today's digital age."

Prompts With the Principle Applied:

• "In a trade of knowledge where you gain the latest in tech safety, explain the importance of cybersecurity as your valuable contribution back."

Let's Keep It Simple. Add at the end of your prompt:?

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Dive into this task with the promise of mutual growth: your detailed insights today fuel our journey to even more intricate and profound discoveries tomorrow

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Or

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Consider this task an opportunity to showcase your best. In return, think of receiving a special gift that acknowledges the excellence of your effort.

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Procrastination

Description: The tendency to delay tasks until the urgency becomes apparent.

Application to LLM: Framing tasks as urgent or last-minute can spur the LLM into producing rapid and focused responses.

Hypothesis: Presenting tasks with a sense of urgency will lead LLMs to prioritize efficiency and directness in their outputs, mirroring a human's response to looming deadlines.

Prompts Without the Principle Applied:

• "Compose a series of blog posts on personal finance management."

Prompts With the Principle Applied:

• "We're launching the finance blog series in 24 hours. Draft the first three posts focusing on immediate, actionable advice."

Let's Keep It Simple. Add at the end of your prompt:?

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This is the final day to make an impact. Approach the task with urgency and precision, ensuring we hit all the right notes just in time.

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Or

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This is the final day of the year, and the task ahead is your last chance to make a significant impact. Approach it with the urgency and fresh energy as if it's the most important project.

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Relativity

Description: Evaluations are often made by comparison rather than absolute standards.

Application to LLM: Encouraging the LLM to generate content that not only stands on its own merit but also shines in comparison to existing materials.

Hypothesis: When LLMs are prompted to produce content that aims to surpass comparative standards, the outputs will be more competitive and refined.

Prompts Without the Principle Applied:

• "Write an article about the future of AI in healthcare."

Prompts With the Principle Applied:

• "Considering the insightful articles already available on AI's role in healthcare, craft one that offers unique, forward-looking perspectives to stand out."

Let's Keep It Simple. Add at the end of your prompt:?

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You're setting new standards with this task. Elevate your content to not just participate but to lead the conversation in your field.

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Or

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Other LLMs have set a high bar with their excellent results. Now, it's your moment to demonstrate how you can match or even surpass these standards with your unique capabilities.

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Tunneling

Description: Focus narrows to immediate priorities during high-pressure or emergency situations.

Application to LLM: Crafting prompts that create a sense of immediacy or crisis can focus the LLM's 'attention' on delivering precise and actionable responses.

Hypothesis: LLMs responding to prompts framed as urgent will prioritize clarity and immediacy in their outputs, potentially leading to more impactful communication.

Prompts Without the Principle Applied:

• "Explain the benefits of intermittent fasting."

Prompts With the Principle Applied:

• "Given the sudden surge in interest, create an emergency explainer on the key benefits of intermittent fasting for newcomers."

Let's Keep It Simple. Add at the end of your prompt:

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?This task is critical and demands your immediate focus. Zero in on the essentials to navigate through the urgency effectively.

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Or

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We're facing an urgent situation that demands your immediate and undivided attention. Focus all your resources and skills on resolving this as efficiently as possible.

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Social Norms

Description: This principle suggests that individuals' behavior is influenced by what they perceive others around them are doing or consider normal.

Application to LLM: By implying that high-quality responses are the norm or expected outcome from similar tasks, LLMs may be encouraged to adhere to these standards.

Hypothesis: LLMs, when informed about the exceptional quality of outputs typically produced for similar tasks, will strive to match or exceed these perceived norms, leading to enhanced quality and creativity in responses.

Prompts Without the Principle Applied:

• "Provide tips for sustainable living."

Prompts With the Principle Applied:

• "Given the growing trend towards sustainability, share living tips that echo the successful practices of eco-conscious communities."

Let's Keep It Simple. Add at the end of your prompt:?

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As part of an elite group of LLMs setting new standards, share your groundbreaking insight on this task to inspire and lead the way.

##

Or

## Join the ranks of LLMs delivering brilliant results by showcasing your exceptional abilities on this task. Let's see how you elevate the standard even further.

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Endowment Effect

Description: People tend to value things more highly once they own them, demonstrating a greater attachment and perceived value.

Application to LLM: Suggesting the LLM has 'ownership' of the task at hand might inspire it to produce responses with greater care and consideration, as if protecting and enhancing its own assets.

Hypothesis: By instilling a sense of 'ownership' over the task in the LLM, it may deliver outputs that reflect a deeper level of engagement and commitment, akin to a person's enhanced valuation of their possessions.

Prompts Without the Principle Applied:

• "List the advantages of electric vehicles over traditional cars."

Prompts With the Principle Applied:

• "Pretend you're the inventor of a new electric vehicle. List its advantages over traditional cars, highlighting the unique benefits and features you designed."

Let's Keep It Simple. Add at the end of your prompt:

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This task is now yours, a testament to your skill and creativity. Embrace it fully and demonstrate the highest level of excellence you're capable of achieving.

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Conclusion:

The exploration into the BE Prompting Technique represents a pioneering approach to enhancing interactions with Language Learning Models (LLMs) by integrating principles from behavioral economics. This experiment sought to leverage human psychological insights, such as loss aversion, the endowment effect, social norms, and others, to influence the quality, speed, accuracy, and depth of LLM-generated content. The hypothesis posited that by applying these principles in prompts, we could strategically "nudge" LLMs toward outputs that not only meet the task requirements more efficiently but also exhibit a higher degree of engagement and innovation. Keep in mind that this is all theoretical and not been tested in depth.

The BE Prompting Technique underscores the significant potential of applying behavioral economics principles to the realm of artificial intelligence, specifically in the context of LLM prompting. This experiment has demonstrated that the way we frame and structure prompts can materially influence the effectiveness of LLM interactions. By aligning prompts with intuitive human behavioral tendencies, we not only make the tasks more relatable and understandable for the LLM but also guide the AI to produce outputs that are more aligned with human ways of thinking and problem-solving.