Jan. 26, 2026

Surrounded by Conformists: How to spot the 5 types of NPC and think your own thoughts - [Psychology of non-player characters]

Surrounded by Conformists: How to spot the 5 types of NPC and think your own thoughts - [Psychology of non-player characters]

The psychology of non-player characters and why they are much more common than you think

The algorithm doesn't want you to think; it wants you to react. It wants you to be a character in its story, following a predictable path of outrage and agreement.

We are living through a shift where the line between human and bot is blurring. Not because computers are getting more human-like, but because we are becoming more bot-like.

We outsource our worldview to gurus, tribes, and mainstream consensus because the "heavy lifting" of System Two thinking is expensive. Being an NPC is a choice of convenience, but being an "Autonomous Player" is an act of leadership.

This episode isn't about being right; it’s about the bravery of having no opinion on the trivial, so you can have a passionate, informed perspective on the essential.



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CHAPTERS

00:00 Modern Culture, Predictability, and Non-Player Characters (NPCs)​
01:24 The Brain's Information Processing Shortcuts​
01:58 Welcome to the Growth Mindset Psychology Podcast​
03:07 Episode Inspiration and Structure​
04:46 The Brain's Energy Efficiency and Decision Making​
05:07 System One and System Two Thinking​
07:06 The Influence of Social Media and Algorithms​
07:54 The Conformist NPC​
14:35 The Contrarian NPC​
21:11 The Disciple NPC​
25:25 The Tribalist NPC​
29:51 The Averager NPC​
36:11 Embracing Confusion and Building Autonomy​
37:31 Recap of NPC Types and Strategies​
38:23 Strategic Cognitive Resource Allocation​
38:51 The Importance of Selective Deep Thinking​
39:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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