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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Falko Sniehotta
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.Amidst the global momentum of behavioral insights (BI), there has been a shift from mostly nudge-based BI applications to systemic approaches. This is particularly pressing in public health, where interacting issues regularly produce unanticipated consequences. Regardless, little is known about adopting complex systems approaches in behavioral public policy. This study aims to capture current practices of international BI experts on the definition, application, drivers, and hindering factors in adopting complex systems approaches in public policy. Semi-structured individual expert interviews (n = 12) of international BI experts with extensive experience in educating, cooperating with, and/or advising public servants were analyzed with inductive content analysis. While the working definition of BI aligned with published definitions, experts varied in their descriptions of complex systems approaches and its significance for public policy, including socioecological aspects, systematic BI use across policy stages, recognizing intertwined behavior, and lack of ready-made solutions. They emphasized the importance of systems approaches, identifying drivers (e.g. need for a broader focus) and hindrances (e.g. pressure for quick results). Embracing complex systems in behavioral public policy provides a holistic perspective, extending beyond simple nudges, sometimes presumed as universally applicable. While complexity perspectives would align with policymakers’ worldview, applications require more work to tailor to local situations and to evaluate. Recognizing that, given their distinct expertise content, BI expertise can be quite different from complex systems expertise. The field would benefit from clear descriptions and specialized training for effective integration and advocacy for these approaches.
Author(s): Puukko S, Heino MTJ, Kostamo K, Saurio K, Sniehotta FF, Hankonen N
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Translational Behavioral Medicine
Year: 2024
Volume: 14
Issue: 7
Pages: 417-425
Print publication date: 01/07/2024
Online publication date: 22/05/2024
Acceptance date: 02/04/2024
Date deposited: 16/07/2024
ISSN (print): 1869-6716
ISSN (electronic): 1613-9860
Publisher: Oxford University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibae024
DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibae024
Data Access Statement: De-identified data from this study are not available in a public archive.
PubMed id: 38777342
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