Labubu is no longer just a toy; it is a form of "social currency."

Written by: Pang Tong

Stop criticizing LaBuBu! You have no idea it's "murdering" your rationality!

Have you noticed that people around you have been talking about a "little sprite" lately? It has a pair of pointy ears, a crooked mouth, and sometimes a mischievous smile. It is LaBuBu, the hottest trendy toy IP under Pop Mart. From celebrity trendsetters to ordinary white-collar workers, from first-tier cities to small counties, LaBuBu has swept into our lives at an incredible speed, even making countless people "willingly" empty their wallets.

Did you think this was just a simple trend frenzy? Did you think you were just paying for a "hobby"? How naive!

Today, I will peel away LaBuBu's "cute" exterior and reveal how it precisely manipulates your psychology, step by step "murdering" your rationality, making you unknowingly become its "ATM"!

This is not alarmism; behind this are several "thinking models" that you have never noticed quietly controlling you!

The Principle of Scarcity: What you're fighting for is not a toy, but the fear of "missing out"!

Why are LaBuBu's blind boxes always "hard to find"? Why can the prices of hidden editions skyrocket?

This is precisely the "principle of scarcity" at work!

Humans have an almost obsessive desire for scarce items. When an item is limited in quantity and hard to obtain, we instinctively believe it is more valuable, leading to a stronger desire to possess it. Pop Mart understands this well and artificially creates LaBuBu's "scarcity" through limited releases, hidden editions, and hunger marketing.

You think you are rushing to buy LaBuBu, but in reality, you are rushing to buy a sense of psychological security of "not being left behind"! You fear missing out, fear that others have it while you do not; this "fear of missing out" (FOMO) makes you lose your rationality, willing to pay any price to bring it home.

Intermittent Reinforcement: A "psychological trap" more addictive than gambling!

What is the charm of blind boxes? It lies in that sense of "uncertainty"!

You never know what will come out of the next blind box—will it be a desired style or a repeated "dud"? This mechanism of "sometimes there is a reward, sometimes there isn't" is known in psychology as "intermittent reinforcement."

It is more powerful than continuous reinforcement (where there is a reward every time) because it creates a "gambler's mentality." Just like a slot machine, you don't know when you will hit the jackpot, but every time you pull the lever, it is filled with anticipation and excitement. Even if you strike out several times in a row, just one "win" can instantly offset the previous disappointments, filling you with confidence for the next "good fortune."

LaBuBu's blind boxes are your "psychological slot machines"! Every unboxing is a psychological gamble. You are not "opening blind boxes"; you are just "betting" on human nature! And this intermittent stimulation will make you unable to stop, deeply trapped, until your wallet is emptied, and you are still looking forward to the next "miracle"!

Loss Aversion: What you spend is not money, but "unwillingness"!

Have you ever had this experience: to get a certain hidden edition, you have already bought dozens of blind boxes, but you are still just a little bit short?

At this moment, do you feel a strong sense of "unwillingness"? You feel that if you give up now, the money you spent before would be "wasted"!

Congratulations, you have fallen into the trap of "loss aversion"!

Psychological research shows that the pain of loss is felt much more intensely than the pleasure of gaining an equivalent benefit. When you have invested time and money but did not achieve the desired result, the pain of that "loss" can be unbearable. To avoid this pain, you choose to continue investing until you "break even" or get what you want.

So, every penny you spend on LaBuBu may not be for "gaining," but for "not losing"! You are not paying for a new toy; you are just paying for your "unwillingness"!

Social Proof and Herd Behavior: What you buy is not a trendy toy, but "social currency"!

Why has LaBuBu become a sensation online? Why are celebrity trendsetters showing off LaBuBu?

Because LaBuBu is no longer just a toy; it is a form of "social currency"!

Humans are social animals; we crave recognition and desire to fit into groups. When LaBuBu becomes a symbol of trendiness, a "hot topic" on social media, owning it means you are at the forefront of fashion, meaning you belong to a certain "circle."

You think you are chasing a trend, but in reality, you are just chasing a feeling of "being recognized"! You are not buying a trendy toy; you are buying a "ticket" to enter the circle, a "social currency" to connect with others.

Anchoring Effect and Mental Accounting: Your wallet is being manipulated by an "invisible hand"!

Have you ever felt that although a single LaBuBu blind box is not expensive, you have unknowingly spent hundreds or even thousands?

Behind this is the "anchoring effect" and "mental accounting" quietly at work!

The "anchoring effect" refers to the tendency of people to rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive (the "anchor"). When LaBuBu's hidden editions are hyped to thousands or even tens of thousands, a blind box costing a few dozen seems "very cheap" in your mind. This high-priced "anchor" makes you lose vigilance towards the low-priced blind boxes.

Meanwhile, "mental accounting" allows you to categorize the money spent on LaBuBu into an "entertainment account" or "small expenditure account." You perceive this as "small money," as "fun," so spending it feels effortless, even more "generous" than buying necessities.

Your wallet is being manipulated by these "invisible hands"! You think you are spending freely, but in reality, you are just playing a game according to the "rules" they set!

Conclusion: See through the truth behind the "little sprite" and return to your rational self!

LaBuBu's explosive popularity is no coincidence. It precisely exploits human weaknesses, constructing a powerful "consumption loop" through scarcity, intermittent reinforcement, loss aversion, social proof, anchoring effect, and mental accounting.

We do not want to deny LaBuBu's artistic value and the joy it brings; rather, we want to remind you: it is crucial to maintain a sense of clarity and rationality in the face of fervent trends.

Next time you pick up a LaBuBu blind box, ask yourself:

• Do I really like it, or am I afraid of missing out?
• Am I truly enjoying the unboxing experience, or am I anticipating that uncertain "grand prize"?
• Am I really paying for a hobby, or am I paying for my "unwillingness"?
• Am I genuinely pursuing individuality, or am I chasing the feeling of "being recognized"?

By seeing through the truth behind the "little sprite," you can truly take control of your wallet and return to your rational self!

Don't let a "little sprite" empty your wallet and further "murder" your rationality!

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