Nudge theory is a way to get people (and yourself) to do more of the things you need and want to do without pummeling them with the sound of your voice. There are many subtle ways we can positively influence our own and others’ choices. It’s called nudge theory.
What is nudge theory?
Nudge theory, developed by Richard Thaler, is the practice of shaping one’s environment, or its “choice architecture,” to encourage people to make a certain decision
- A nudge is any aspect of the choice architecture that alters behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives
Make choices in advance
Because we typically want to do better, healthier things for ourselves in the future, it helps to nudge people (including ourselves) to make decisions in advance. Doing this will get people’s behavior more aligned with their long-term intentions, rather than what they simply want right now.
How to nudge yourself toward better decisions
Think about small tweaks you can make in your environment to guide yourself to the decision you’d like (them) to make
- Often, visual cues are helpful
- Place your sneakers by the door to remind yourself to run more
- Hang your bike on the wall at eye level to encourage cycling
- Want to eat healthier? Place a fruit in the middle of the kitchen island to make it more likely you’ll eat healthier
How to nudge others
Katy Milkman, a behavioral scientist at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, advises timeliness
- “Telling your partner in the morning to stop by the store in the afternoon will not be very effective, but sending them a text just as they get into their car after work will be,” she told CNN
- Milkman also advocates for reminders including “planning prompts”
- Getting people to make “concrete when, where, and how you’ll get there” statements to increase follow-through
