Nudge(ography) and practice theories: Contemporary sites of behavioural science and post-structuralist approaches in geography?

Abstract

Within geography there has been considerable debate about the reasons, patterns and consequences of human behaviour. Behavioural science, specifically Nudge, and practice theories are fashionable fields of enquiry, reflecting a long history of conversation between behavioural and poststructuralist approaches. The purpose of this paper is to foster further engagement with and between these perspectives, bringing to the fore the relevant ontologies from which they arise. The paper is thus largely concerned with the ‘ontological politics’ of approaches seeking to understand human action and concludes with some reflections on an agenda for geography, a discipline well placed to unite disparate concepts.

Being surprised and surprising ourselves: A geography of personal and social change

“…Geographers are well positioned to critique these practices, given their thriving research programs on ‘nudging’ and the libertarian paternalism of applied cognitive science (e.g. Pykett, 2018; Reid and Ellsworth-Krebs, 2018; Whitehead et al, 2018).…”

Inside the behavioural state

“…Scholars of law have considered the implications of behavioural public policy for the judicial system (inter alia, Allemano & Sibony 2015; Van Aaken 2015; Lepenies & Malecka 2015). Social and political geographers have performed 'nudgeography' (Reid & Ellsworth-Krebs 2019), looking at how the behavioural policy agenda has been spreading across the global policy sphere (inter alia, Jones et al 2013;Jupp et al 2016;Whitehead et al 2014). Public policy scholars have explored how behavioural policymaking is being institutionalized, mostly focusing on activities in the Anglosphere (inter alia, Strassheim & Korinek 2014;John 2018).…”

Understanding Resource Consumption in the Home, Community and Society through Behaviour and Social Practice Theories

“…This need for consistency is recognized as an opportunity to encourage behaviour change through triggering individuals' values and self-concepts, effectively making them aware of potential dissonances [33]. This can be employed through the use of nudging or prompts [34].…”

“…Repetition requires less mental effort, which can lead to unintentional habits forming and once habits are established, future actions are likely to be guided by them, regardless of values, attitudes or norms. Due to the unconscious nature of habits, habitual behaviours are only reviewed when provoked (or nudged) or in the event of a change in context [34,36]. This change in context for modifying behaviours is also what SPT advocates as a way to influence resource consumption.…”

“…This has also been termed time-space whereby space is simply a place to carry out particular activities or practices at a certain time [95]. By focusing on the actions of individuals rather than the individuals themselves, SPT brings aspects of space and time to the forefront of the decisions of everyday life [34]. SPTs have been critiqued for focusing more on the performances of practices rather than the mental or emotional state or events.…”