Handwashing Can Stop a Virus—So Why Don’t We Do It?
How can behavioral science help us take advantage of one of the most effective measures to prevent the spread of viruses?
Michael Hallsworth
Michael Hallsworth is managing director, North America at the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), a social-purpose company that was created as the first government institution dedicated to applying behavioral sciences to policy. He is a co-author of the forthcoming book, Behavioral Insights (with Elspeth Kirkman).
Early Edutainment: The Behavioral Scientist’s Guide to Fairy Tales
Fairy tales exemplify behavioral science in action (even if it’s unintentional), illustrating the power stories have to influence our thoughts and behavior.
A Tale of Two Systems: 19th Century Behavioral Insights From Poe, Austen, and Dickens
Literature can open up a wider range of examples that illustrate core behavioral science principles.
A Tale of Two Systems: What Can Behavioral Science Learn From Literature?
Behavioral scientists take pride in the interdisciplinary nature of our research, yet we rarely draw on accounts of human nature generated outside of the social sciences.
Why Governments Need to Nudge Themselves
Policymakers are also affected by the same cognitive biases that they seek to address in others. Does that mean that their decisions are also flawed?