Nudging

The Self-Regulation Lab is involved in several research projects on nudging, a novel approach to behaviour change in health and consumer settings. Nudges acknowledge the notion that most decisions are automatic rather than reflective and do not involve much deliberative thought. The focus in our research lies on investigating how and when people are responsive to subtle hints to favor a particular choice with an emphasis on self-regulation, autonomy, and appreciation of choice support in public arrangements. Empathic autonomous choice instigated by prompts is the central topic of the multidisciplinary Prompted Rationality network. The Self-Regulation Lab also offers a master course on nudging, addressing the psychological underpinnings of how nudges operate and design issues in nudging.