The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos cover image

Why our Brains Don't Fear Climate Change Enough

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

00:00

Influencing positive behavior through social norms and identity

Harnessing the power of social norms and identity can effectively promote positive behavior. People are influenced to reuse towels and conserve electricity when they believe it's what others are doing. Displaying a sign stating that most guests reuse their towels led to significant compliance. Similarly, comparing individual electricity usage to that of neighbors prompted people to reduce their consumption. A litter reduction campaign in Texas targeted a specific demographic with the slogan 'don't mess with Texas', resulting in a 72% reduction in litter. These examples illustrate how leveraging social identity and conformity can drive positive change for the environment and society.

Play episode from 23:03
Transcript

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app