Psychology Report: Exploring Nudges and Behavior Change Strategies

This report delves into the psychology of behavior change, focusing on the impact of nudges and various theoretical frameworks. It explores key models such as the theory of reasoned action, health belief model, trans-theoretical model, social psychological theory, and learning and behavior theory, providing insights into their applications. The report also examines the role of technology in supporting behavior change interventions, emphasizing the importance of systematic design processes, particularly the COM-B framework, for creating effective strategies. Furthermore, it discusses the ability to design, develop, and apply behavior change interventions to real-world scenarios, addressing the challenges encountered in both adults and children. The report highlights the significance of understanding behavior change principles for addressing various behavioral problems and challenges.

Running Head: Nudges and Behavior Change
psychology
NUDGES AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE

Nudges and Behavior Change 1
Table of Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................1
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Theories, Techniques and Models of Behavior Change..................................................................2
1. The theory of reasoned action and the planned behavior.....................................................2
2. The health belief model........................................................................................................3
3. Trans-theoretical model........................................................................................................4
4. The social psychological theory...........................................................................................5
5. The learning and the behavior theory...................................................................................6
Role of Technology in Supporting Behavior Change......................................................................7
Systematic Design Processes to Create Effective Change Interventions........................................8
Ability to Design, Develop and Application of Behavior Change Interventions to Real-World
Scenarios and the Challenges........................................................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................12
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
APPENDICES...............................................................................................................................16

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Executive Summary
This paper presents different theories, techniques, and models of behavior change which provide
significant information and summarize some of the cross-cutting themes and central elements of
the behavior change. Different theories and models of the behavior change reviewed under the
human behavior and social science discipline. On the other hand role of technology also studied
to support the behavior change. This will help human beings in understanding the systematic
approaches of behavior change interventions which further helps them in applying their behavior
to their real world challenges.
Introduction
It has been observed that the behavior contributes to the present morbidity and the mortality. The
changes interventions of the behavior are significant in the prevention. The change interventions
of the behavior are mainly complicated, and it comprises the various components. Further,
according to the reports, it has been observed that the change interventions of the behavior are
effective, but people do not understand appropriately that the effectiveness is being defined as
the variable. The theories and the techniques which are ineffective are being used more by the
individuals as compared to the effective theories, and the techniques are not used adequately.
Moreover, the effective techniques, theories and the models of behavior change are being
discussed along with the role of technology in order to support the change of behavior.
Furthermore, systematic design processes will be discussed in order to create the effective
interventions of change. Also, the ability to design, develop and further the application of the
change interventions of the behavior to the scenarios of real-world will be discussed along with
the various challenges.

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Theories, Techniques, and Models of Behavior Change
1. The theory of reasoned action and the planned behavior
This theory is one of the most broadly applied theories of behavior. The theory acts as the
behavior’s predictor. Further, the theory is used in order to predict the behavior and analyze the
behavior. It has been observed that the theory can augur around 30 percent of the behavior's
variance that is being brought through interventions (Montano, D. E., & Kasprzyk, D. 2015).
Moreover, as the theory helps in predicting the behavior, it is a great technique in order to unfold
the specific influences which are required to be changed. Further, the theory can be used in order
to understand the behavior of an individual like what is their intention behind the particular act to
which they react. The figure given below will help in understanding that how the theory can be
applied in orders to understand the factors of the behavior which are required to be changed.

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Figure 1 Application of reasoned action and planned behavior theory
2. The health belief model
This is the model of cognition which demonstrates that the behavior is being arbitrated by the
numerous beliefs in relation to the threat to the well-being of an individual along with the
outcomes and the effectiveness of specific behavior and the actions. The theory also follows the
self-efficacy concept along with the action's beliefs. Further, the beliefs are incremented by the
stimuli which are considered as action cues that trigger the adaptation of the behavior. The
theory helps in identifying the perceived vulnerability and the susceptibility of the individual and
the seriousness of the consequences which might result in the outcome. The theory is being used
in order to identify the intention of behavior which is being perceived from the threat and the
behavior’s effectiveness (Cummings, T. G., & Worley, C. G. 2014).

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Figure 2 Application of health belief model
3. Trans-theoretical model
This theory is also known as the stages of change, and it is based on the levels of readiness of
motivation along with the continuum of the change of behavior. Further, the rationale of this
model is that the persons at the same level of the stage might face similar barriers and the
problems and this theory helps them by the similar type of intervention. Moreover, the transition
among the stages of change can be driven by a balance of the decision and the self-efficacy.
Therefore, the theory can be applied adequately when an individual will face the various
challenges at various levels.

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Figure 3 Application of trans-theoretical model
4. The social psychological theory
This type of behavior change theory is mainly interested in understanding that how the various
experiences and the events external to an individual, for example, the aspects of the physical
environment and the various distinct situations persuade the behavior of an individual.
Furthermore, the stress is being placed on the various attributes of the social content in which the
behavior takes place along with the distinct expectations and the norms of the society, cohesion,
stereotypes, dynamics, beliefs and the attitudes (Michie, S., & West, R. 2013). Moreover, the
theory can be applied adequately in order to know and identify the different aspects of the
behavior and why people give such reactions.

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Figure 4 Application of social psychological theory
5. The learning and the behavior theory
This theory helps in demonstrating that the behavior can be transformed by offering incentives,
rewards, etc. at the workplace. Further, such type of rewards is being incorporated in the
structured schedules of the reinforcement, and the procedure of changes in the behavior is known
as the modification in behavior. Furthermore, this type of theory applies external control of great
level over social and the physical environment which is being utilized to reinforce the particular
behavior (Hagger, M. S., & Chatzisarantis, N. L. 2014). Therefore, the theory is applied
adequately in order to understand that to what extent an individual is being influenced by the
aspects of the physical and the social environment.

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Figure 5 Application of learning and the behavior theory
Role of Technology in Supporting Behavior Change
According to the various theorists, the role of the technology is being considered and appreciated
for the practical and the scientific reasons. Further, it is very important for the change
interventions of the behavior create a sound basis for the science. The technology is required to
offer the effective and the impactful interventions along with the guidance in order to ensure that
the interventions are being used effectively. Moreover, the behavior is being measured and
defined as the intervention’s outcome as compared to various other results. It has been observed
that the behavior change requires the reliable technology along with the theory. The technology
plays the significant role in the change interventions of the behavior effectively.
The future and the contemporary technology will keep offering various opportunities in order to
develop distinct kinds of the applications of software for the change of the behavior and further

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supports the change in the positive and the effective way (Oinas-Kukkonen, H. 2013). Further, it
is important for the developers of the software and the users in order to be aware of the
approaches and the applications of the technology or the software in order to use them efficiently
for the purpose of behavior change. The computer science helps in understanding the behaviors
of the individual that are being influenced by the technology towards the change interventions. If
we take an example of the workplace, then we can clearly understand that technology does not
have their intention and the management of the workplace plays a crucial role in influencing the
behavior like by giving authority to the employees to handle the software or giving them the
access in order to operate, etc.
The approach of autogenously is being used by the individuals in which they use the technology
in order to change their behavior and the attitude by developing their own level of motivation.
Therefore, the technology plays an essential role in supporting the change interventions of the
behavior positively and effectively.
Systematic Design Processes to Create Effective Change Interventions
According to the theorists, there are various design processes in order to develop the change
interventions, but the COM-B is the most effective systematic design for the change
interventions. The framework helps in understanding the framework in depth. Further the causal
connection in the system works in order to amplify and minimize the impact of the specific
interventions resulting to changes in the behavior. The framework offers a basis to create change
interventions in order to change the behavior. Furthermore, if the framework is applied to the
design of the intervention, then the task will include the target of the behavior and the

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components which will be required by the system for the purpose of change interventions of
behavior.
Moreover, the system does not place any priority on the perception of the group, individual and
the environment. The external and the internal factors have the equivalent status in order to
control and further change the behavior (Larsen et al., 2016). The system helps in understanding
that what are the components required for the process of change intervention and what will be
the effect of such components on the individuals after the completion of the process of change
interventions. For example, while targeting the individual trait of the behavior, the barrier will be
capability, and in order to overcome the challenge, the opportunity and the motivation are
required to a great extent.
The behavior is being generated by the three aspects and further it is possible to create sub-
divisions which will capture the significant information about the traits of the behavior. This
framework helps in differentiating between the psychological and the physical capability in order
to create an effective change intervention of behavior. Further, it is being observed that the two
types of opportunities i.e. social and the physical are being afforded by the milieu of the culture
and the environment respectively. Moreover, in respect to the motivation, the reflective and the
automatic procedures are being differentiated which further involves impulses and the emotions
from the dispositions of the innate. The figure given below helps in understanding the systematic
design process of COM-B.

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Figure 6 COM-B framework
Ability to Design, Develop and Application of Behavior Change Interventions
to Real-World Scenarios and the Challenges
In today scenario, adults and children both face different behavioral challenges. Children with
behavioral disorders have high rates of comorbidity. Such type of children becomes very difficult
to manage for parents as well as for their parents. On the other hand, it can be said that behavior
change interventions play an important role in changing the real world scenarios. Behavioral
problems and challenges in adults and children can easily solve by using an integrative
theoretical framework (Smits, 2016). With the help of integrative framework, one can easily
utilize a wide range of behavioral theories to solve their day to day problems and challenges.
Moreover, behavioral challenges can easily resolve by taking a systematic approach towards
intervention design. In this context, individuals firstly need to diagnose their own target behavior
in different situations. This will help them in recognizing and evaluating their own behavior in
different circumstances. After identifying their target behavior, individuals need to make a