The Ikea Effect Why We Value What We Create

Mind Theory

Why do we value something more when we’ve put in the effort to build it, even if it’s imperfect? In this episode of Mind Theory, we dive into the Ikea Effect, a cognitive bias that leads people to overvalue objects they’ve created themselves. Inspired by the experience of assembling wobbly IKEA furniture, we explore research that shows how the effort and sense of completion lead to greater feelings of ownership and pride. But beware—this effect can also cause us to overestimate the true value of what we’ve made. Tune in to understand how the Ikea Effect shapes your perceptions and why we’re wired to love what we create.