What is the connection between UX and psychology?

User experience (UX) design and psychology are closely connected because they both deal with how people think, feel, and behave. UX designers use principles from psychology to create products, services, and experiences that are intuitive, engaging, and easy to use. In user centered design, you need to understand the user.
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⁠⁠One key concept in UX design, that is relevant to psychology, is the principle of usability. This principle states that a product or service should be easy to use, with a minimum number of steps required to achieve the desired outcome. UX designers use this principle to create products that are simple and straightforward to use, helping users to achieve their goals quickly and efficiently - while still keeping the functional integrity, flow and enjoyability of the design.
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⁠⁠One important task of optimizing the usability is reducing the cognitive load. This refers to the amount of mental effort required to use a product or service. UX designers aim to reduce cognitive load by minimizing the number of steps required to complete a task and by making information easy to find and understand. This also takes a tremendous effort in understanding the human psyche.
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⁠Another area where psychology and UX-design intersect is in the use of persuasive design techniques. These techniques are used to encourage users to take a specific action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a service. UX designers use various psychological principles, such as the principle of social proof (the idea that people are more likely to take an action if they see others doing the same) and the principle of scarcity (the idea that people are more likely to take an action if they believe that an opportunity is limited), to create persuasive and effective design.
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⁠In summary, UX design and psychology are closely connected because they both focus on understanding and influencing human behavior. By using principles and knowledge from psychology, UX designers can create products and experiences that are intuitive, engaging, and easy to use - helping to create a positive user experience.
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Some articles that highlight this relationship:
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⁠1) Ish∆n. ⁠"The Psychology Of UX Design". UX Design, 2020-02-05, https://uxdesign.cc/the-psychology-of-ux-design-859439bc8a32. Accessed 23 Dec 2022.
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⁠2) Phillips, Becca. "The Intersection Of Psychology And UX". UX Design, 2021-05-09, https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/the-intersection-of-psychology-and-ux-c44167efb09d. Accessed 23 Dec 2022.
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⁠3) Kohler, Tanner. "Psychology For UX: Study Guide". Nielsen Norman Group, 2022-12-16, https://www.nngroup.com/articles/psychology-study-guide/. Accessed 23 Dec 2022.
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⁠4) Bora, Maitreayee. "Correlation Between Psychology And UX Design". Opensense Labs, 2022-05-23, https://opensenselabs.com/blog/articles/correlation-between-psychology-ux-design. Accessed 23 Dec 2022.