When your brain can’t wait enough.

Southpark, in its latest episode, paid tribute to the distinguished author, J.D. Salinger, and his most acclaimed work, Catcher In The Rye, in their own inimitable way.

Of course, Eric Cartman is funny as hell, but its interesting to see how all reactions in class move progressively from disgust of book reading to wanting to read that book NOW!

How did this happen?

Blame this on the human brain and the theory of the scarcity principle – “The less available the resource, the more we want it.”

If something is difficult to get, then by getting it, we tell ourselves and others that we are in control of our environment. If things are scarce, we as human beings, are wired to anticipate possible regret that we did not acquire it, and so, we desire it more.

We can agree that Mr. Garrison sure did the right thing of telling the children that the book is controversial, is still banned, and has some strong vulgar language. Add to this, the fact that John Lennon’s killer shot him because of this book.

But were these explanations the actual reasons, which triggered this automatic behaviour of wanting to read this book even more?

After all, according to the Roman historian, Publius, “Forbidden things have a secret charm.”

How true.

#behaviouraldesign #catcherintherye #southpark #jdsalinger #scarcityprinciple #principles #ericcartman