The i-Frame and the s-Frame: How Focusing on the Individual-Level Solutions Has Led Behavioral Public Policy Astray

Strategic ambiguity in the social sciences

“…For this reason, we have avoided a more specific set of guidelines for dealing with problems related to strategic ambiguity. Systemic problems often require sustained scrutiny and systemic solutions that focus on the system in which individuals operate, rather than simply nudging individual behavior (Chater & Loewenstein, 2022). Ideally, proposed solutions operate in concert, targeting multiple components of a system, as is done by funder and journal partnerships rewarding transparency in empirical research (Chambers & Tzavella, 2022;Munafò, 2017).…”

How Does Personalized Feedback on Carbon Emissions Impact Intended Climate Action?

“…Despite these limitations, there are more serious reservations on using personal carbon calculators as a tool to mitigate climate change. The reasoning is that calculators put too much emphasis on individual behavior change and reduce people's support for broader system change (39). This reasoning is supported by past studies that demonstrated backfiring effects of a green nudge that increased individual pro-environmental behaviors but simultaneously reduced support for climate policy.…”

Achieving effective climate action in cities by understanding behavioral systems

“…Behavioral change is often assumed to mean approaches that target individual consumer actions, whereas systems change is often used as shorthand for intervening in technological, built-environment, and regulatory contexts. 10 Behavioral and social scientists have pointed out that this dichotomy is inaccurate and unhelpful. Instead, policymakers should consider people's multiple roles beyond that of a consumer and target a wide range of actions, including support for and participation in diverse climate measures.…”