# What is nudging?  👤 [Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences Utrecht University](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQuO4qGw8hpqlRxqrRbju4g) 🔗 [Watch video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLBgjd8bbQw&t=8s) ## Summary This video provides an overview of "nudging," a method of influencing people's behavior by subtly modifying their environment or "choice context." It explains that many of our decisions are automatic and guided by the environment rather than conscious thought. Nudging leverages these unconscious processes to make certain choices more likely, such as placing healthy food at eye level. The video introduces the concept of "libertarian paternalism," which underpins nudging, stating that choices are guided without being forced or making alternatives significantly more difficult. While nudging is successfully used in policy-making for issues like organ donation and environmentalism, the video highlights two critical, unresolved questions that require further psychological research: the role of transparency and the long-term consequences of nudging interventions. ## Key points - **Nudging Defined**: It is an umbrella term for methods that predictably change behavior by altering the "choice architecture" (the context in which people make decisions). - **Psychological Basis**: Nudges work by taking advantage of our automatic, non-conscious mental processes and rules of thumb, as we often lack the time or motivation for deep reflection on every choice. - **Libertarian Paternalism**: This is the guiding philosophy of nudging. It promotes a certain choice but does not forbid other options or make them significantly more costly in terms of time, effort, or money. - **Unresolved Question 1: Transparency**: There are ethical concerns that nudges are manipulative because people are unaware of them. The video questions whether making people aware of a nudge negates its effectiveness. Preliminary evidence suggests it may not, but more research is needed to understand awareness of the nudge, the process, and the outcome. - **Unresolved Question 2: Consequences**: Nudging research typically focuses on immediate, one-shot interventions. There is a need to study the long-term consequences, such as "spillover effects" on other choices or if nudges can create lasting positive habits even after the intervention is removed. - **Call for Research**: The video concludes by referencing a paper ("Unresolved questions in nudging research: putting the psychology back in nudging") that details these issues and calls for more research to address ethical concerns and improve the success of nudging. ## Technical terms - **Nudging**: Deliberate methods of changing people's behavior by modifying the context in which choices are made, without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives. - **Choice Architecture**: The environment and context in which individuals make decisions. The design of this architecture can influence the choices people make. - **Libertarian Paternalism**: A political philosophy that argues it is legitimate for institutions to try to influence people's behavior to make their lives better (paternalism), but they must do so in a way that respects freedom of choice (libertarianism). - **Spillover Effects**: Unintended consequences of an intervention that "spill over" to affect different choices, behaviors, locations, or times beyond the scope of the original intervention. ## Conclusion The video effectively explains the concept of nudging as a powerful tool for influencing behavior in various domains. However, it emphasizes that for nudging to be applied ethically and effectively, the field must address critical gaps in research, particularly concerning the impact of transparency on its effectiveness and the unexamined long-term consequences of its application. Related Links [[Influence]] [[behaviour]] [[Leadership]]