Deprecated: Hook jetpack_pre_connection_prompt_helpers is deprecated since version jetpack-13.2.0 with no alternative available. in /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6078 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/functions.php:6078) in /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/functions.php:6078) in /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/functions.php:6078) in /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/functions.php:6078) in /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/functions.php:6078) in /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/functions.php:6078) in /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/functions.php:6078) in /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/functions.php:6078) in /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04ay/b1602/nf.whysel/public_html/decisionfish.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831 {"id":4209,"date":"2018-11-30T11:28:07","date_gmt":"2018-11-30T16:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.decisionfish.com\/?p=4209"},"modified":"2022-07-31T19:52:35","modified_gmt":"2022-07-31T23:52:35","slug":"what-makes-us-tick-insights-from-the-2018-behavioral-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.decisionfish.com\/what-makes-us-tick-insights-from-the-2018-behavioral-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes Us Tick? Insights From The 2018 Behavioral Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you know that “knowing” is definitely not<\/em> half the battle? The G.I. Joe Fallacy<\/a> is but one of the many provocative and counter-intuitive ideas I learned at this year\u2019s Behavioral Summit<\/a>. Organized by ideas42<\/a>, a nonprofit behavioral science consultancy, the Summit included speakers from diverse disciplines including healthcare, sexual assault, risk, fundraising, systems analysis, happiness, diversity, financial inclusion and, of course, behavioral science. Seems any field that affects humans can be understood and perhaps advanced with the help of behavioral science. Here is a selective rundown of the most interesting things I learned there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Robert Cialdini<\/a>, behavioral science can appeal to and bridge the chasm between left and right in America. The left values nudges as additional tools for government intervention in the public interest. The right appreciates that nudges don\u2019t require laws, regulations and constraints on liberty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Cialdini also suggests that to get things done in a world where identity is more important than self-interest, we need to align our message (and nudge) to the \u201ctribe\u201d we are hoping to influence. To change behaviors, we can use social norms by exemplifying a member of the tribe who is behaving as desired. For example, find an anti-carbon tax Democrat, to show that having such a view is feasible. Even better is if this Democrat has changed her mind based on new information, she then becomes a more persuasive \u201cconvert communicator<\/a>\u201d. We must also recognize that the bigger the mistake our target audience has made, the harder it will be for them to change their minds. So, best to avoid finger-wagging and help them save face by suggesting \u201cyou couldn\u2019t have known.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Betsy Levy Paluck<\/a> blew up some intuitive, widely held beliefs about the perpetrators of sexual assault. (I was particularly interested in this topic because I have family and friends who have been directly affected.) According to Ms. Paluck, it is not the case that most rapes are perpetrated by repeat offenders because of their personal, sociopathic qualities. The theory persists because it\u2019s simple, appealing and supports the reassuring belief that most people are good. Of course, the reality isn\u2019t so simple. She says the evidence better supports the \u201cbehavioral model\u201d in which our actions are a function of both self-perceptions and perceived norms. Men who see themselves \u201cundeservedly low in power\u201d, in a context of certain stereotypes, morals and goals, may behave sociopathically. An interesting and effective intervention was students handing out a definition of assault<\/a>at the door to a party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sendhil Mullainathan<\/a> delivered a thought-provoking exposition of a \u201cslow hunch<\/a>\u201d he\u2019s developing regarding slowing our automatic responses. He discussed Chicago\u2019s Becoming a Man program<\/a>, which works with at-risk, inner-city boys. This surprisingly effective program has activities that work to lengthen the time between stimulus and response. It is based on the insight that many tragic acts of violence occur as the result of split-second decisions. If we can create a delay between stimulus and response, then perhaps we make space for more mindful and rational decision-making. (I personally have found mindfulness and meditation practice helpful in this way.) Mr. Mullainathan worries that ubiquitous technology can get in the way of self-reflection and even influence harmful behaviors (\u201csludge<\/a>\u201d). On the other hand, technology can highlight our blind spots. For example, one\u2019s browser history can yield all sorts of insights about the rabbit holes we go down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fascinating panel on encouraging prosocial <\/a>behaviors for our own good offered these observations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n