Conserving nothing but trouble?
January 30, 2025
Ivo Vlaev and Marco J Haenssgen argue that research and policy collaboration with indigenous communities is key to long term conservation success. … More Conserving nothing but trouble?
Tag: behavioral science
Happy new year 2025 from the IBPPA!
January 20, 2025
A lot is happening in the world of behavioural public policy. We look ahead to the exciting events and opportunities for the IBPPA community. Get involved, stay informed, become a member. … More Happy new year 2025 from the IBPPA!
Why New Year’s resolutions matter: The psychology behind the tradition
December 31, 2024
Ivo Vlaev, Professor of Behavioural Science, University of Warwick New Year’s resolutions represent more than just a fleeting tradition; they offer a powerful opportunity for self-reflection and intentional growth. Rooted in six fundamental psychological needs shared by all humans, resolutions serve as a catalyst for meaningful change. Here’s why they matter and how they can … More Why New Year’s resolutions matter: The psychology behind the tradition
Meat and manhood: Unpacking resistance to reduced meat consumption
December 26, 2024
Excessive meat consumption is increasingly scrutinised for its impacts on the environment, animal welfare, and public health. Men’s consumption of meat is higher than women’s, driven not just by taste preferences and higher caloric needs, but also social expectations surrounding men’s diets. Public messaging to reduce a behaviour as deeply ingrained as meat eating—a food that humans have consumed for at least 2.5 million years—can expect to face significant resistance. Behavioural public policy may offer unique tools to address this, but has to be careful not to trigger psychological defences. … More Meat and manhood: Unpacking resistance to reduced meat consumption
Keeping track: Finding the “how it works” for an app on cutting down drinking
July 24, 2024
Giving people agency within a health behaviour change intervention may be both desirable and effective. Smartphone apps make this approach possible for a large part of the population. If this works, however, it is also vital to understand how and why an app is effective. This blog by Larisa Dina (UCL) describes the process evaluation of a recent trial run by UCL researchers evaluating how engagement with an alcohol reduction app, Drink Less, and participants behavioural characteristics underpin its effectiveness. … More Keeping track: Finding the “how it works” for an app on cutting down drinking
Navigating the ethics of Behavioural Public Policy: Views from Academia and Policy Making
June 17, 2024
Mathieu Prevelato reflects on the discussions of the Behavioural Public Policy Knowledge Exchange Group, bringing together academics and policymakers. The blog highlights apparent tensions between the ethics and practicalities of behavioural public policy … More Navigating the ethics of Behavioural Public Policy: Views from Academia and Policy Making
Communicating by Numbers: How and What
October 13, 2023
Communicators often use their intuitions to decide what to present, and they don’t always use numbers. Including numbers can have beneficial effects, for example in the willingness to vaccinate. In this blog Ellen Peters and Brittany Shoots-Reinhard share the lessons from 20 years of research into communicating with numbers. … More Communicating by Numbers: How and What
Why a calorie count won’t spoil a good feast
December 6, 2022
Sarah Watters investigates the evidence on the weak effect of “physical activity calorie equivalent” food menu labelling. Why might it not work in the real world, and what might this mean for policy … More Why a calorie count won’t spoil a good feast
A Science for Implementing Behavioural Science
December 5, 2022
Without deliberate investigation of the methods required to systematically improve the take-up of evidence in real-world settings, at scale, grounded in an understanding of scalability, the impact of behavioural public policy to shift behaviours where it truly matters is severely curtailed.
An implementation science for behavioural public policy is crucial if, as researchers, we want to effect real change. … More A Science for Implementing Behavioural Science
Meta-Nudging: Putting collective momentum into behaviour change
August 2, 2022
What happens when a behavioural nudge is removed? How can the momentum be maintained? Is it a “one and done” situation or will behaviour revert? Eugen Dimant, and Shaul Shalvi argue for “meta-nudging” – tapping into influencers in existing social contexts to delegate the policing of new norms. In situations where dishonesty can be individually beneficial but collectively harmful then nudging influencers could play an important part in successful change. The meta-nudge could be a useful complement to “classic” nudge … More Meta-Nudging: Putting collective momentum into behaviour change