Behavior Change for Good Initiative

@Wharton @Penn Initiative led by @katy_milkman & @angeladuckw unites star #BehavioralScientists with organizations to advance the science of behavior change

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

🚨New BCFG paper alert 🚨

What does it take to change behavior?

In the Annual Review of Psychology, Team Scientist @JGVoelkel and Co-Directors @angeladuckw & @katy_milkman provide a new framework for understanding the most effective tools to change behavior.

The paper outlines 3 phases of change: building motivation, following through, and forming habits.

https://t.co/Yq0XlT57oZ

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

Many people keep money in savings while also carrying credit card debt, paying more in card interest than their savings earn.

In a new @PNASNexus paper, Team Scientist Abigail Sussman & co-authors find that messages reminding them they had cash available to pay down their debt led people to make payments more often, but didn't change how much money they repaid.

The authors suggest that banks could use this insight to design accounts where savings reduce the interest on debt while cash stays accessible.

https://t.co/SdjGs2wzPd

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

🚨New Book Alert: Vibe by Team Scientist Adam Grant🚨

@AdamMGrant challenges myths about social connection and offers science-backed tips for building relationships that support happiness and success.

https://t.co/I5W8Vo3qXy

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

Co-Director @katy_milkman will share the story behind BCFG’s @Nature paper, “Megastudies improve the impact of applied behavioural science,” at the Behind-the-Scenes Seminar, a series on how research gets made.

📅 Thurs, Oct 22 | 11AM ET | Zoom | Free and open to all

Register: https://t.co/ymGOu6E5ow

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

New research by Team Scientist @agneezy & collaborators finds givers think a monetary gift needs to be bigger than receivers do. For charitable giving, this means those who might have donated a small amount give nothing instead.

In one study, telling givers that small gifts are welcome made them more likely to give.

https://t.co/Zjg7ue49eP

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

📅 NEXT MONTH: Have a question for @angeladuckw about getting situated? Join BCFG for a virtual Q&A with Angela, moderated by @katy_milkman.

The event is free and open to all. Bring your questions!

Monday, November 2 | 1:30-2:00 PM ET
Register: https://t.co/5Mv2kb5AF8

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

New research by Team Scientist Markus Brauer and colleagues tested two approaches to reducing the racial achievement gap in STEM.

Instructors of STEM college courses were randomly assigned to get information on either 1) making their classroom more inclusive, 2) building students' resilience and self-efficacy, or 3) no information at all.

Grades improved only in classrooms where the instructor received the inclusion information, with students from underrepresented groups earning half a letter grade higher than those who received no information.

https://t.co/GsPH6qrwEC

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

“Without exception, every high performer I’ve studied credits a host of supporters for success. Research has found that a willingness to ask for help is crucial to achievement.”

— Co-Director @angeladuckw in her @nytimes op-ed on the power of asking for help.

https://t.co/XKpHxztzMw

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

Team Scientists @MicheleJGelfand and James Gross were recently recognized with lifetime achievement awards from the Association for Psychological Science.

Congratulations!

https://t.co/sjQrOe2IPH

[Katy Milkman @katy_milkman]

‼️New Paper Alert‼️What does it take to change behavior? In a fresh Annual Review article, @JGVoelkel, @AngelaDuckw and I argue it's helpful to consider 3 phases of change:
1️⃣ building motivation
2️⃣ following-through
3️⃣ forming durable habits

🧩KEY TAKEAWAY: At each phase, different obstacles to change arise that need to be met with evidence-based, tailored solutions.

For instance, at the follow-through phase, forgetting can disrupt change. But forgetting can be combatted by reminders or feedback. Impatience can also disrupt follow-through, but it can be addressed in part by making change more fun or providing access to commitment devices. These are not the only obstacles to follow-through, however, and different obstacles arise at the motivation and habit forming phases, which are best tackled with entirely different solutions. Table 1 from our paper (reprinted below) offers a summary of common obstacles to change and evidence-based solutions.

⭐Our review focuses on solutions supported by *high quality evidence*, particularly from field experiments with objective behavioral outcomes (e.g., grades, gym visits, hours spent volunteering).

👀Take a look at our new piece in the Annual Review of Psychology: https://t.co/vIeK5OVR4Z

Huge thanks to our excellent editor @EliJFinkel. We're very grateful for support from @Wharton, @BehaviorChange, @Penn and @Cornell, which made this work possible.

[Knowledge at Wharton @whartonknows]

In an exclusive exercept from her new book, Situated, @Wharton & @BehaviorChange's @AngelaDuckw explores the idea of “situational agency,” or taking charge of your circumstances and choosing the people, places and environments that bring out your best. https://t.co/07KF58dlYx

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

Interested in working on research w @katy_milkman & @angeladuckw to promote #BehaviorChange?

Apply to one of our full-time positions, ideal for anyone considering a PhD! June ‘27 start.

Research Coordinator: https://t.co/bMRhIFngS6

Research and Comms Coordinator: https://t.co/wl0dvewEGn

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

Why would hiding a bowl of cashews inspire gratitude?

Richard Thaler (Nobel Laureate and BCFG Team Scientist) explains why we treat "now" so differently from "later".

#behavioraleconomics #behavioralscience

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

📅 VIRTUAL Q&A: Have a question for Angela Duckworth about getting situated? Join BCFG for a virtual Q&A with @angeladuckw, moderated by @katy_milkman.

The event is free and open to all. Bring your questions!

Monday, November 2 | 1:30-2:00 PM ET
Register: https://t.co/ugEMdhucgU

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

Some have argued that gratitude can encourage people to accept the status quo.

New research by Team Scientist Tom Gilovich and collaborators found the opposite: people who were dispositionally grateful were more likely to do costly prosocial actions like donating blood, volunteering their time, and helping strangers.

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

BCFG joined friends, family and colleagues of Co-Director @angeladuckw to celebrate the release of her new book, Situated.

Congrats, Angela!

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

Angela Duckworth’s new book on the power of the situation is out today!

Read a Q&A with Co-Director Duckworth in this month’s BCFG newsletter: https://t.co/l58SPld2qr

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

People often spend time worrying about future negative events yet fail to take preventive action.

New research by Team Scientist Gabriele Oettingen and collaborators shows how having people focus on positive aspects of their life can motivate taking preventative measures.

https://t.co/5JVUHL5Gd9

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

Thank you to the undergraduate Research Assistants who supported BCFG’s research this summer! We appreciate all of their hard work on advancing behavior change research.

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

When might the winner of an auction really be the loser?

@R_Thaler (Nobel Laureate and BCFG Team Scientist) explains the Winner’s Curse in this clip from a BCFG event.

#behavioralecon #behavioralscience