BOOK REVIEW: Nudge
by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein
What is a "Choice Architect"? Or "Libertarian Paternalism"? These may not be burning questions, but they are the basis of this book on how people make decisions. It considers how people are influenced, and how they can be encouraged to take decisions that are in their individual interest. It is clearly established that complete freedom of choice does not necessarily lead people to act in their own best interests.
The balance between impulsive and considered thinking is also considered, and how this knowledge can be used to encourage self control in decisions that have medium term implications. This helps people to make "investment" decisions - such as exercise - where the benefits are less immediate than the costs.
The factors that influence decisions are considered in some detail. A range of experiments is presented that prove that decision making is anything but a science. The role of conformity is particularly interesting. Making choices based on what other people are doing, or the way in which that information is presented is much more prevalent than might be suspected.
Are there implications for education? Certainly an understanding of how children make decisions about things such as sport and exercise helps the shape the way these experiences might be presented to them to encourage engagement. There is clear evidence that the right "nudge" towards a desirable outcome can have considerable impact on individual choice. This is the role of choice architects, who seek to exert such influence.
The second part of the book considers how choice impacts on society, and the way in which people make decisions on financial issues, organ donation, pensions and the environment. Whilst interesting, this has less direct relevance for the educator, through the chapter on school choice is more significant.
For teachers seeking to influence the decisions their pupils make, understanding the science behind that process will certainly assist the way in which they present their nudges