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behavior change

Different Dinners: Unlocking Behavioural Insights for a Sustainable Food Future

In 2022, Auckland Council undertook an innovative research project utilising behavioural insights, which was designed to support Auckland households to make more sustainable and climate friendly food choices, i.e., to eat less meat. This ‘Different Dinners’ project is part of a broader programme of work looking at how Auckland Council can respond to its commitments to address climate change. The results were positive and demonstrate that Aucklanders are both willing to and did make changes to their diets. All interventions tested resulted in increased climate-friendly food choices.

By |2024-08-20T01:13:08+00:00April 2nd, 2024|Categories: Environment, Energy & Transportation|Tags: , , , , , , , , |
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Enjoyable Emotions for Self-Improvement and Behavior Change

Enjoyable emotions such as gratitude, pride, inspiration, or nostalgia can motivate people to behave in positive ways triggering positive appraisals of events or situations. These appraisals might translate into positive behaviors, such as cooperation, adaptiveness, or even persistence toward a goal. This article discusses the benefits of enjoyable emotions and how their power can be leveraged to promote behavior change.

By |2023-02-28T01:23:16+00:00February 28th, 2023|Categories: Behavioral Theory & Insights, Morality & Prosocial Behavior, Society & Everyday Life|Tags: , , |
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The Internet of Things: A Landmark Technology for Behavior Change?

Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as smart watches, smart energy meters, and telematics devices have great potential for changing risky behaviors. These devices collect data about behaviors and replay it to consumers to inspire action. But there are considerations for behavioral scientists if this technology is going to be successful as a behavior change tool. This article discusses three considerations and how behavioral scientists can help to unlock the behavior change potential of IoT.

By |2023-01-25T06:53:26+00:00January 24th, 2023|Categories: Behavioral Theory & Insights, Technology & Digital|Tags: , , , , |
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A Practitioner’s Guide to Leveraging Behavioral Insights

Many behavioral interventions offer win-wins to firms, governments, and other stakeholders. However, research has shown that experts do a poor job predicting the effectiveness of behavioral interventions. This article aims to help calibrate forecasts of an intervention's effectiveness. I outline six steps to help assess whether a published effect is likely to be useful in practice.

By |2022-10-27T03:05:05+00:00October 25th, 2022|Categories: Behavioral Theory & Insights, Business & Management, Marketing & Consumer Behavior|Tags: , , , |
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Designing Theory-Informed Behavior Change Apps

Technology has become a relevant asset for scientists supporting people in modifying their behavior. For instance, we find various apps on the market trying to achieve this. Some inspire their designs in psychological theories, but most do not. Creating theory-based app designs provides a guide on which people's behavioral outcomes to expect in response to a particular stimulus, leading to more robust design and effective apps. How to begin designing theory-informed apps? Continue reading to find out!

By |2022-06-30T01:18:38+00:00May 9th, 2022|Categories: Behavioral Theory & Insights, Research Methods, Technology & Digital|Tags: , , , , , |
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Combining Behavioural Science and Māori Cultural Values to Improve the Criminal Justice System

In behavioural science, context is everything. Behavioural Science Aotearoa (BSA) works across the justice sector in New Zealand, where indigenous Māori people make up almost 17% of the population. We combined behavioural science with Māori cultural principles to encourage people to clear their Warrants to Arrest by voluntarily appearing at court. Working with New Zealand Police, we designed and tested a phone-based initiative and found promising evidence for its success.

By |2022-05-26T06:56:24+00:00April 18th, 2022|Categories: Cross-Cultural Perspectives, Government & Civic Behavior, Morality & Prosocial Behavior|Tags: , , , , , , , , |
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Getting It Done – The Behavioral Way

Many people struggle to finish big projects. According to a 2020 survey, almost half of teleworkers had trouble getting motivated. Behavioral science can help! Here are some tips for accomplishing those daunting tasks.

By |2022-02-17T05:23:27+00:00October 19th, 2021|Categories: Behavioral Theory & Insights, Society & Everyday Life, Work & Employment|Tags: , , , , , , , , |
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National Identity and Public Health Behaviors During Covid-19

In a massive international collaboration including more than 200 researchers, we examined the adoption of public health behaviors and support of public policy interventions during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. We found that individuals who identified more strongly with their nation reported greater engagement in public health behaviors and greater support for public health policies. This result was later replicated using aggregated behavioral data.

By |2022-02-17T05:51:59+00:00June 8th, 2021|Categories: Cross-Cultural Perspectives, Health & Medicine|Tags: , , , , , , , |
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Behavioral Insights for Old Age Planning

It’s almost impossible to rationally plan old age, given that decisions in this domain are complex, jointly made and emotional. I argue that behavioral economics can help us understand some of our common decision-making barriers, such as dealing with decision avoidance, reframing old age positively, and designing interventions to better forecast our needs in old age.

By |2022-02-17T06:06:18+00:00March 4th, 2020|Categories: Behavioral Theory & Insights, Finance & Investing, Society & Everyday Life|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Behavioral Economist, Behave Yourself

Using cognitive mechanisms (commitment, loss aversion, social norms and suchlike), I hacked myself to boost my motivation for exercise and healthy habits, get in shape and lose 15 kilos (33 pounds)… all in a record six months.

By |2022-02-17T06:09:45+00:00January 15th, 2020|Categories: Behavioral Theory & Insights, Health & Medicine, Society & Everyday Life|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |
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