Add new term: mechanism of action through supernormal stimulus

[oleksiikartashovde-glitch]

Module: Mechanisms of Action
Suggested parent class: BCIO_050980 (mechanism of action through stimulus)
Proposed label: mechanism of action through supernormal stimulus

Definition: A mechanism of action through stimulus in which the causal influence
occurs through a stimulus that exceeds a natural prototype in one or more key features
detected by an evolved perceptual mechanism, thereby eliciting a response of greater
magnitude than the natural prototype.

Examples: exaggerated facial feature contrast in visual intervention materials;
enhanced colour saturation of health-relevant food cues; oversized reward representations
activating motivational systems beyond natural stimulus levels.

Rationale: The supernormal stimulus mechanism (Tinbergen, 1951) operates by
exploiting the sensitivity of evolved perceptual detectors to specific features. The
detector responds proportionally to feature intensity, not to ecological validity of
the stimulus. In behaviour change interventions this mechanism can increase salience
and motivational impact of intervention stimuli. It is not captured by any existing
MoA class and is distinct from standard stimulus salience in that it specifically
requires exceeding a natural prototype on a biologically relevant feature dimension.

References:

• Tinbergen, N. (1951). The Study of Instinct. Oxford University Press.
• Barrett, D. (2010). Supernormal Stimuli: How Primal Urges Overran Their Evolutionary Purpose. W.W. Norton.

Suggested label: new term