Choiceology with Katy Milkman cover image

Choiceology with Katy Milkman

The Buddy System: With Guests Max Maeder & Rachel Gershon

Aug 12, 2024
Francis Kelly, former CEO of Arnold Worldwide, shares insights on harnessing rebellion for positive change in children and adults. He discusses the success of the "Truth" campaign, which cleverly used teenage defiance to lower smoking rates. Christopher Bryan, an academic at UT Austin, dives into his research on motivating healthier eating among adolescents by leveraging their rebellious nature. Together, they explore how understanding resistance can transform decision-making for better choices.
29:41

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The 'Truth' anti-youth smoking campaign effectively leveraged teenager rebellion to drastically reduce youth smoking rates through innovative advertising strategies.
  • Dolly Parton's Buddy Program demonstrates how peer accountability and structured incentives can significantly improve educational outcomes and reduce dropout rates.

Deep dives

The Impact of Dolly Parton's Buddy Program

Dolly Parton's Buddy Program was initiated to improve graduation rates in her home county, offering a $500 incentive to students who graduated. The program paired students together, and if one did not graduate, neither received the financial reward, promoting accountability. This initiative significantly reduced the high school dropout rate in Sevier County from 35% to just 6%, illustrating the effectiveness of communal support in achieving educational goals. Such success demonstrates that structured incentives tied to peer accountability can lead to remarkable social change.

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