How to Save the World | The Psychology & Science of Environmental Behavior

Too Many Ways to Go Green? Choice Architecture & Overload, Reuben Kline PhD Ep74

Dec 11, 2023

Dr. Rueben Kline discusses the impact of overwhelming eco action lists on behavior, choice architecture in promoting green behaviors, and the balance between easy and hard actions. He explores climate mitigation behaviors and shares insights from his upcoming book 'Climate Games'. The podcast delves into the psychology of environmental actions and the importance of efficacy in driving green behaviors.

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Introduction

00:00 • 3min

Understanding Behavioral Science for Environmental Sustainability

03:07 • 9min

The Impact of Choice Overload on Decision-Making

12:26 • 14min

The Power of Presenting 20 Hard Behaviors

26:08 • 8min

Motivating Individuals Through Easy Environmental Actions

34:33 • 24min

The Spectrum of Environmental Behavior

58:20 • 23min

Urgency and Complexity of Climate Change Solutions

01:21:44 • 4min

Future Visions of Environmental Behavior and Social Science Progress

01:25:36 • 2min

Exploring Sustainability and Behavior Design

01:27:30 • 4min

Does giving people long lists of multitudes of eco actions help people do more green things? Or does it overwhelm, and hence hinder action? And how does the type of action on that list make a difference?

Today’s guest is Dr. Rueben Kline Ph.D. He is the Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Behavioral Political Economy at Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York.

In our conversation, we bring evidence-based academic rigor to those big lists of climate and green actions. We’ve all seen them (or we’ve been the ones who created them!). "Top 10 Green Things You Can Do at Home," "101 Ways the Save the Earth From Your Bedroom" etc.

We explore his paper titled “Too Many Ways to Help: How to Promote Climate Mitigation Behaviors” and the theory of “choice architecture" and "choice overload.” Reuben reveals unexpected findings about green behaviors depending on whether they are perceived as "easy" or "hard."

Reuben is also the co-author of a fascinating book coming out soon titled “Climate Games - Experiments on How People Prevent Disaster” which is about game theory and climate.

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How to Save the World is a podcast about the psychology of what gets people to do eco-behaviors and take climate action: Environmental engineer, designer, and author, Katie Patrick, hunts down the latest behavioral science literature from top universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford to unearth the evidence-based teachings you can use to rapidly get more people to adopt your environmental campaign, program, or product.

Get inspired with positive eco futures art prints, organic t-shirts, hoodies, calendars, and all Katie's action design training at ⁠⁠⁠ecopiastore.com⁠⁠⁠

Join Gamify the Planet masterclass training in climate action design for $25/month ⁠⁠⁠http://katiepatrick.com/gamifytheplanet⁠⁠⁠

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