The Top Ten Myths of Behaviour Change

- A Communications Specialist with Metro Vancouver talks about what drives behaviour change, in the context of increasing recycling, at the Recycling Council of British Columbia’s 2011 annual conference. He lists ten myths and breaks them down into anecdotes and references to studies on things like financial incentives.

For example, a daycare instituted fines for parents who picked up their kids late, but lateness increased because people felt like they’d bought a service.

After discussing myths, he talks about how we can change behaviours and develop new habits, drawing on knowledge from psychology, behavioural economics, marketing, neuroscience, sociology, social media, and more.

As an avid recycler who wants to help the environment however I can, new ways to promote recycling using social proof and other smart tactics sound very promising.

On how mental health issues don’t occur in, and can’t be cured in, isolation.

Can violence be predicted or explained with neuroimaging tools? Consider the issues in this neuroethics lecture.

Documentary about the popularity of cannabis.

Winner of the Mind the Difference video contest, this art film remixes math philosophy, music, and time to comment on social convention and madness.

Social contagion.

Interesting perspectives about why and how we work.

Susan Greenfield is interviewed about her controversial views of social media. She also talks about consciousness for a few minutes.

Involvement or Isolation: Research on the Social Lives of Children with Autism at School.

The controversial police-made documentary on street addiction, Through a Blue Lens.