Three psychological principles explain why the "hot Tua girl" went viral: the Maya Principle (surprising yet familiar content), the authority principle (audiences trust attractive people), and the completion principle (unfinished stories compel engagement). Brands like Airbnb and Apple use the same mechanics.
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Everyone's heard of the hot Tua girl, and these are the 3 psychological principles why she went viral. Number 1: What she said was equal parts surprising and familiar. In psychology, we call this the Maya Principle. The most advanced yet acceptable means the best ideas are always the ones that strike the perfect balance between innovation and familiarity. Think Airbnb, Apple, Uber. Number 2 is the authority principle. We are the most agreeable towards whom we consider the to be the voice of authority. This is why we love listening to Michael Jordan talk about basketball all day. By that same token, we give so much weight and social currency to an attractive person sharing very intimate details and tips about their personal life. Lastly is the unfinished journey. Our brain is wired for completion. This is why we love endings in movies, songs, stories. And as soon as someone starts a visual or psychological journey for you, your brain rushes to fill the gap. And these are the reasons why she's viral. We are captivating, and I deserve an Oscar for doing this with a straight face.
