Behaviour change.

Brookman, Manda; Smith, Denise

Abstract

The chapter starts with a clinical case looking at reasons behind habits, lack of motivation for change, and what internal and external motivations may help. The chapter is about personal behaviour change: what the most effective motivator is; whether humans act logically, reasonably, or because of "social" gain; and how people can take responsibility for their actions and make the right decisions. It explores "how to make the good stuff happen", the importance of "social norms", the importance of the phrases and language used to get the message across, and the realities of disengagement. "Positive deviants" are introduced as a concept – and why they are important. Individual responsibility and wider spheres of influence are discussed, and this leads to how to make behaviours "easy and sticky" by applying "grease not grit". "How to get cracking" details the "what", "how", and "why" to help people make behavioural changes by emphasising specific actions, "comms vs communication", and measuring the magic. A table to show the co-benefits of an action or project is provided with worked examples for bikes, community gardens and energy audits.

Citation

BROOKMAN, M. and SMITH, D. 2024. Behaviour change. In Sawyer, M. and Tomson, M. (eds.) Environmentally sustainable primary care: good for the planet, good for practices, good for patients. Abingdon: CRC Press [online], chapter 17, pages 245-255. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003491583

• Online Publication Date: Nov 7, 2024
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2024
• Deposit Date: Apr 28, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 8, 2025
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 245-255
• Book Title: Environmentally sustainable primary care: good for the planet, good for practices, good for patients
• Chapter Number: Chapter 17
• ISBN: 9781032793580; 9781032793573
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003491583-17
• Keywords: Primary care; Environment and sustainability; Health and social care
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2578278