In this episode, Ralph Hertwig, Director at our institute, makes the case for a major shift in how policy makers approach behavior-related challenges—whether it’s preventing dooring accidents, reducing math anxiety, or countering misinformation. Rather than relying on the common paternalistic strategy of nudging people without their awareness, Ralph Hertwig advocates for a more empowering and transparent approach: boosting people’s competences so they can make informed decisions on their own terms. He argues that this shift, supported by regulations and incentives, is crucial for strengthening people’s agency in the face of global challenges like pandemics and climate change. Empowering citizens also helps protect our autonomy and supports informed choices in environments that are often addictive and manipulative, like the junk food industry or social media platforms. After exploring the limits of nudging, Ralph Hertwig introduces the idea of “boosting”—a behavioral science approach that fosters people’s agency, self-control, and decision-making skills. Boosting, he argues, provides a first line of response, especially since laws are often slow to change and vulnerable to outside influences. He shares some examples of boosting interventions, like the Dutch Reach, bedtime math stories, and lateral reading. He also talks about “self-nudging,” a strategy that helps individuals shape their own environments in ways that align with their personal goals. Our conversation highlights how boosts are transparent, non-manipulative, and designed for lasting impact—and how they can be implemented fairly and accessibly for everyone. Ralph Hertwig encourages policy makers to move beyond the narrow view that people are just error-prone, and instead invest in strategies that tap into our ability to learn and adapt. Join us for a forward-thinking conversation on how we can collectively empower citizens and equip them with the tools to live better lives—on their own terms.

Access the full show notes for this episode at www.unravelingbehavior.org.

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(01:17) The need for competent and empowered citizens

(05:57) Role of policy makers and scientists

(08:01) Citizen agency during COVID-19

(12:02) Introducing nudging

(16:36) Opt-in vs. opt-out defaults for organ donation

(19:18) Concept of libertarian paternalism

(21:40) Criticisms of nudging

(24:32) Research behind nudging

(27:40) Evidence suggesting citizen empowerment is feasible

(31:51) Introducing boosting

(33:48) Dutch Reach to prevent dooring accidents

(36:09) Bedtime math stories to reduce math anxiety

(39:15) Lateral reading to detect misinformation

(43:23) Transparent nature of boosts

(44:34) The potential of boosting for long-term change

(45:58) Boosting through self-nudging

(50:44) Core competences and interventions to boost them

(55:30) Communication of boosts to the public

(56:53) The trap of individualizing responsibility

(58:42) Cognitive and motivational requirements

(01:00:40) Message to policy makers and citizens

(01:03:56) Conclusion