Choice architecture

Do I want to eat more Twisties?

If they’re within arms reach, apparently yes. But actually, no.

We’re on the way to pick up a planishing hammer (bonus points if you have any idea what a planishing hammer is. I didn’t), and Col has a huge open packet of Twisties in the centre console.

After a few mouthfuls I’ve had enough sickly orange grubs, yet I lack the self-control to stop shovelling them into my face. So I give the packet to Col to stash in his car door.

Why?

I have total agency no matter where the Twisties packet is. Yet I need to introduce a hurdle to change my behaviour. It’s stupid and irrational. And very human.

Moving the packet changes what economist Richard Thaler calls my “choice architecture”. Choice architecture plays a huge role in determining whether our behaviour aligns with our goals. Best intentions usually aren’t enough.

Whether it’s resisting Twisties, keeping an exercise routine, staying in contact with friends, or getting to bed on time.

Or posting videos.

I was utterly stuck at the start of 2020. I flogged myself trying to establish a video presence, but couldn’t post a thing. After weeks of floundering, Alicia McKay and Peter Cook flipped my approach.

They held me to account to ditch my perfectionism and post weekly phone videos for a month. I was up and running.

Sometimes small shifts lead to huge results.

In this weeks Fink Tank, Col and I talk about choice architecture experiments, and how to get the best out of ourselves.