Placebo Buttons Are Everywhere! | Smartest Year Ever (Nov 15, 2025)

In this episode, Gordy explores the world of placebo buttons — those everyday controls that look functional but don’t actually do anything. From elevator “Close Door” buttons that don’t close doors, to crosswalk signals that don’t change lights, to office thermostats that don’t control temperature — these fake controls are everywhere, quietly shaping our behavior.

This episode dives deep into the illusion of control, a powerful psychological bias that makes us feel more at ease when we think we’re influencing events. Even when that button press changes nothing, it gives us a sense of agency — something our brains crave in uncertain situations.

It’s a fascinating look at how psychology, design, and automation intersect to keep us calm and compliant in modern life. So next time you jab a crosswalk button or mash “Close Door,” ask yourself — who’s really in control?

#PsychologyFacts #DailyFacts #HumanBehavior #ScienceExplained #placebos #placebobuttons #BehavioralScience #psychology #funfacts Music thanks to Zapsplat.

Sources:

• CBS News. (2017). Door Close Buttons on Most Elevators Don’t Actually Work.
  

• Mental Floss. (2019). Do Close-Door Buttons in Elevators Actually Work?
  

• HowStuffWorks. (2021). Are Crosswalk and Elevator “Close Door” Buttons a Total Sham?
  

• 99% Invisible. (2015). User Illusion: Everyday ‘Placebo Buttons’ Create Semblance of Control.
  

• Psychological Science. (2016). The Illusion of Control and Human Decision-Making.