Collaborating on evolving the future

Abstract

Humans possess great capacity for behavioral and cultural change, but our ability to manage change is still limited. This article has two major objectives: first, to sketch a basic science of intentional change centered on evolution; second, to provide examples of intentional behavioral and cultural change from the applied behavioral sciences, which are largely unknown to the basic sciences community.All species have evolved mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity that enable them to respond adaptively to their environments. Some mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity count as evolutionary processes in their own right. The human capacity for symbolic thought provides an inheritance system having the same kind of combinatorial diversity as does genetic recombination and antibody formation. Taking these propositions seriously allows an integration of major traditions within the basic behavioral sciences, such as behaviorism, social constructivism, social psychology, cognitive psychology, and evolutionary psychology, which are often isolated and even conceptualized as opposed to one another.The applied behavioral sciences include well-validated examples of successfully managing behavioral and cultural change at scales ranging from individuals to small groups to large populations. However, these examples are largely unknown beyond their disciplinary boundaries, for lack of a unifying theoretical framework. Viewed from an evolutionary perspective, they are examples of managing evolved mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity, including open-ended processes of variation and selection.Once the many branches of the basic and applied behavioral sciences become conceptually unified, we are closer to a science of intentional change than one might think.

Mental wellbeing in the Anthropocene: Socio-ecological approaches to capability enhancement

“…In addition to the benefits that it provides to groups, prosociality has also been linked to enhanced levels of personal wellbeing (Wilson, Hayes, Biglan, & Embry, 2014). The PROSOCIAL approach utilizes generalized versions of eight principles that are specified by Wilson and colleagues (Wilson, Ostrom, & Cox, 2013; Wilson et al., 2014) as follows: 1) Strong group identity and understanding of purpose; 2) Fair distribution of costs and benefits, i.e. everyone doing their fair share, with those doing more getting additional recognition; 3) Fair and inclusive decision-making; 4) Monitoring agreed-upon behaviours; 5) Graduated sanctions for misbehaviours that can range from gentle reminders, to increasing levels of punishment, up to exclusion; 6) Fast and fair conflict resolution; 7) Authority to self-govern, i.e.…”

“…Guarding against the assumption that the design principles are simply viewed as being intuitive to how groups operate, Wilson et al. (2014) pointed out that groupsseldom have a strong sense of group identity (a violation of design principle No.…”

An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study Investigating the Function of Hoarding

“…Variability in behavior is increasingly conceptualized as an important process to investigate in psychology. From an evolutionary perspective, variations in behavior allow for a process of natural selection by consequences (Wilson, Hayes, Biglan, & Embry, 2014). For example, variation in mindfulness creates opportunities to learn when present-moment, nonjudgmental awareness is helpful (e.g., when experiencing self-critical thoughts), and when it is not (e.g., when planning for the future).…”

Designing for the next (Circular) Economy. An appeal to renew the Curricula of Design Schools

“…Recent research in various behavioral sciences (prevention science, cognitive psychology, neurology, and experimental economics) shows that certain interventions can prevent many of the behavioral problems that trouble society. It is now possible to positively influence the further evolution of cultural practices (Wilson et al, 2014) and such knowledge might be crucial for designers. For example, at the British Behavioral Design Lab, a collaboration between Warwick Business School and the Design Council, scientific understanding of people is used to design better products, services and places.…”