Copy & TV - Best In BeSci
As a behaviour-shaping communications consultancy, we’re often asked where to start when it comes to getting into behavioural science. It’s a pretty niche space and without knowing where to look or what to look out for, it can be hard to navigate. Last year we decided to curate a list to help answer the question, here's a list of all our recommendations for anyone in need of a BeSci fix!
Recommendation 1
Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman
Our followers are a mixture of people who are quite well versed in BeSci and those who are brand new. This week we wanted to go back to basics and start with the classic ‘Thinking Fast and Slow’ by Daniel Kahneman. Kahneman is often considered one of the godfathers of behavioural economics, and this book explains how our brains have a 2 systems approach to decision making. Interestingly, research has suggested that only 7% of people who have started the book actually finish it, which shows just how short our attention spans are, but we’d certainly recommend staying with it to the end. So much of what we do at Copy & TV is to fight for the attention of system 1 thinking, so if you’re looking to start from the beginning and understand the basics – then this is the book for you.
Recommendation 2
Duck-Rabbit - Paul Dolan
This week’s recommendation comes from Paul Dolan, an LSC professor who was one of the developers of MINDSPACE, one of the most notable frameworks for understanding and implementing behaviour change.
His 10 episode podcast ‘Duck-Rabbit’ discusses the polarisation problem with members of the public, academics, commentators, politicians and activists to try to understand why we can’t be more understanding of each other and happier as a result. Topics such as why do we care if people have pineapple on their pizza and why do we disagree provide some food for thought (pun intended).
With a few swear words - this one may not be safe for office broadcasting!
Recommendation 3
The Decision Lab
On week 3 of our Best in BeSci, we’re recommending The Decision Lab, a behavioural think tank who apply decision science, digital innovation, and lean methodologies to create a positive impact in the public and private sectors.
The website is full of useful insights from the last few years such as how the Halo Effect impacts the way we perceive and make decisions about products and services, and how to reduce the effects of stress on financial decision making. The website also provides detailed explanations of the various biases and heuristics that affect the way we think and behave.
Head to The Decision Lab to find out more!
Recommendation 4
O Behave
This week, we’re back with another podcast recommendation, O Behave from Ogilvy Consulting. O Behave is a monthly podcast that features interviews with behavioural science researchers and experts, bringing you the latest from the BeSci world.
With a wide range of topics discussed, it’s the perfect podcast for those interested in every BS! Our favourite episodes include; how to become more creative by John Cleese and Rory Sutherland, who talk about their experience with creativity and how everyone can embrace it, and the case for chaotic people with Michele Gelfand, who reveals how our words, clothing and culture reflect on our behaviour as employees, citizens and leaders.
This is certainly another team favourite so be sure to check it out!
Recommendation 5
Nudgestock
With last week’s post in mind, the next addition to our Best in BeSci list also comes from Ogilvy, in the form of a BeSci festival – Nudgestock.
Nudgestock has been running each year since 2013, hosting the very best of behavioural science, with the simple aim of exploring how real-world humans think, decide and act. Polarising ideas are debated and celebrated by the planet’s boldest thinkers all in one day.
Since the pandemic, the event has been held virtually, making it even more accessible. The date for this year is yet to be released but keep your eyes peeled, ours certainly will be!
Recommendation 6
Think Big - Dr Grace Lordan
This week we’re back with another book recommendation – Think Big by Dr Grace Lordan.
Grace Lordan is an Associate Professor in Behavioural Science in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at LSE, and the Founding Director of The Inclusion Initiative - an innovative partnership programme bringing together research and practice to build more inclusive work environments.
This book looks at the small steps people can take to make big changes in all aspects of their life, as well as looking at the biases that hold people back. We were lucky enough to have Grace Lordan speak at one of our away days last August, giving an insightful talk and tips for using Behavioural Science to Think Big.
Safe to say the whole team now have a copy of this book at home!
Recommendation 7
MINDSPACE
In week 2 of our Best in BeSci we mentioned MINDSPACE, one of the most notable frameworks for understanding and implementing behaviour change. This week we wanted to shed a little more light on it.
MINDSPACE is a mnemonic for 9 effects that influence our behaviour across a variety of subjects, these are; messenger, incentives, norms, defaults, salience, priming, affect, commitments, and ego.
The development of this framework started with an initiative by members of the UK Cabinet Office to study the implications of behavioural theory for policymaking. It was one of the first behavioural frameworks to be applied in a policy setting, which has since become a leading trend across the world. It can be used as a checklist for policy-makers or anyone interested in changing behaviour – it’s certainly one of our favourite tools!
The full MINDSPACE report can be found here.
Recommendation 8
The Decision Corner - The Decision Lab
We’re back with another podcast recommendation this week. The Decision Corner comes from The Decision Lab, the behavioural think tank we featured in week 3.
This podcast sees leading behavioural scientists give practical insights and advice on how we can use science to improve our decisions as individuals and as a society, and bring wisdom to both our daily and professional lives. Rather than focusing on the technical principles, The Decision Corner dives deep to find out just how the world's brightest minds solve complex real-world problems using the social sciences.
Recent topics include; creating people-centered behavioural policy with Elizabeth Linos and why shaming is one of democracy’s most powerful tools with David Moscrop.
Be sure to give it a listen
Recommendation 9
The Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed the World - Michael Lewis
This week’s Best in BeSci comes from Michael Lewis with his book ‘The Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed the World’. The book is about how Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, two of the most prominent figures in behavioural science, met at university and how their mutual interest in the human mind would help to change how we see the world.
We mentioned Kahneman in week 1 with his book Thinking Fast and Slow, but together with Tversky, their work showed that people were in fact not able to make decisions rationally and logically, but instead there are a number of heuristics and cognitive biases that influence people’s decision-making, especially under uncertainty.
We’re often speaking about these biases and heuristics on our LinkedIn page so be sure to give us a follow so you don’t miss any!
Recommendation 10
Future Learn - Behavioural Science: Influencing Behaviour and Designing Decisions
On Week 10 of our Best in BeSci we’re recommending a behavioural science course we’ve recently discovered - Behavioural Science: Influencing Behaviour and Designing Decisions. Our Marketing Coordinator, Julia, has recently completed it and thought it was one to share with you all! The course comes from Future Learn and is run by Paul Dolan with a focus on customer and employee behaviour split into 3 sections:
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Behavioural Economics
It includes many of the theories we’ve mentioned before such as System 1 & 2 and MINDSPACE. So, if you’re looking to take your learning to the next level, the course can be found here.
We’re going to be hitting the pause button on this list for now, but if you’ve come across any books, podcasts or anything else that you think would make a good addition to the list, then do let us know!