Overview of Green Behavior Science

Transcription

1 Overview of Green Behavior Science PSY 499/699 Lecture: 9/9/10 Mark Alavosius, Ph.D. University of Nevada, Reno

2 Outline Definitions of Behavior Science of behavior Principles of behavior Pseudo-scientific accounts of behavior Applied behavioral science Evidence based solutions Behavioral technologies & applications to work Organizational behavior Management fads Green Behavior Core ingredients Examples of Applications? Small scale to systems

3 Behavior Common: Anything an organism does Technical: That portion of an organism s interaction with the environment detectable through time and space and that results in a measurable change in some aspect of the environment Single instance & classes of behaviors

4 Like flowing water Behavior is a continuous interaction: Dynamic Complex Variable (turbulent) Affected by context (channels & canals) Challenge: observe & measure behavioral variability

5 Behavioral Variability Functional classes Observe how actions produce an effect in the environment Topographical variations Observe the forms of behavior Dimensions: Temporal dimensions (time between instances, latency, duration) and products

6 Example: Lifting Observe function of actions Loads are raised & lowered across surfaces (pallet to shelf) Observe form of lifts Dynamic action grasp load, bend knees, hold close, unbend knees, rotate with load, locate on new surface

7 Behavioral Risks in Food Industry Risks to whom? Consumer? Employee? Community? Context Safe & At Risk Behavior Consequence Personal hygiene history +/-; Training, KSA; Job Aid (poster); Peer Model +; Peer Model -; Supervisor present +/-; Values Find & don gloves Wash hands per guidelines Disinfect surfaces with XXX Work with soiled hands Leave spills on equipment Promote others unsafe acts (model, tease, ignore) - Teased by peers - Irritated hands (dry) + Feels right! + More productive + less effort than clean + Social acceptance Safe behaviors are often punished by immediate negative consequences At-risk behaviors are often reinforced by immediate positive consequences

8 Behavioral Risks in Food Industry Manager behavior? Context Safe & At Risk Behavior Consequence Personal history with mgt +/-; Goals from Execs; Job Aid (poster); Bottom line; Bonus plan; Regulators on site; Work rules; Values Uses PPE & models safe behaviors Praises safe behavior Corrects at-risk behavior Presses for more output Ignores spills on equipment Delays response to EEs safety requests - Teased by peers - Calls piling up - Annoyed look from EE + More productive + less effort than clean + Keeps to budget The same analysis can be done with executive/leadership behavior all behavior is lawful

9 Behavioral Risks Food Protection Environmental Protection Similar in that both involve routine practices that may contaminate & endanger. The consequences of many of these risky behaviors are delayed and not effective in selecting optimal practice.

10 Environmentally Significant Behavior UNR behavior on/near campus? Context Green & At Risk Behavior Consequence Personal history with green +/-; Goals & Values; News/media; Loan/debt (save $); Peer pressure; Religious beliefs; Other background Recycles stuff, rides bike, uses car pool Praises green behavior - Teased by peers - More effort Corrects at-risk behavior - Annoyed look from? Trashes stuff Drives an SUV - alone Teases crunchy people + More productive + less effort than green + crowds bike off road Recall the 6 Americas analysis our audience has different entering perspective's & values. Ecounfriendly behaviors are easily maintained by features of our settings & social contingencies

11 A Science of Behavior Behavior Science Integrates with other sciences that reject non-natural sources of control (physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) Repeated observation of behavior in context Lawful relations between behavior & environment Internal & external validity No appeal to unobservable constructs Practical implications (supports technology)

12 Pseudo-Science Everyone behaves All have intimacy with subject matter Everyone is an expert on behavior! Beware the temptations of non-empirical explanations (e.g., Autism vaccine causes & weird treatments) (e.g., unsafe behavior employee is cause so blame EE) (e.g., green behavior attitude driven so change them) These may generate non-effective initiatives or worse

13 Applied Behavioral Science Acquisition of behavior Elaboration Maintenance Cessation & Replacement Evidence-based solutions: Behavioral Systematic & coherent Technological Replicable Socially valued

14 Applied Behavioral Science Acquisition of behavior Elaboration Maintenance Cessation & Replacement Practical applications with: Clinical populations Education Sports Work Safety Health Community practices

15 Applications to work are a good model Organizational behavior Behavioral principles apply at work Select, train, motivate, manage Management fads abound! Beware! Apply to Green Behavior Grounded in behavioral science Some applied research since 1970 s Pioneers: Winnett, Geller, Hayes, others Tested & replicable technology emerging Energy conservation Recycling

16 Individual behavior & organizational performance Individuals behave Measure classes behavior (e.g., green & at-risk behaviors) Maybe measure products of individual s behavior (e.g., utility bills) Estimate emissions produced I ve ridden my bicycle 450+ miles to work this summer. How much gasoline did I not use? These are upstream to environmental degradation Groups perform (interlocked behaviors) Estimate production by many individuals (CO 2 not emitted) What if 10,000,000 others bicycled to work instead of taking the SUV? Root cause of eco-damage (contamination) often unclear Behavioral metrics may reveal source of degradation And focus preventative solutions

17 Green Behavior Change Some Core Ingredients: 1. Behavioral green targets 2. Observe behavior in context 1. Self, peer, leader, instruments 3. Practical interventions 1. Motivating operations (deprivation, value altering events) 2. Antecedents (rules, prompts, signals) 3. Consequences (feedback, reinforcement) 4. Measure outcomes (incidence rates) 5. Part of comprehensive green ecosystem 1. Integrates with design, architecture, engineering, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, etc. - find & remove environmental hazards 2. Behavioral science promote adherence with green practices

18 Green Behavior Network See the following: (Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies) Join the Environmental/Green Issues solution group. It s free! M. Alavosius is chair. Help disseminate information

19 CCBS BBS Accreditation Green Behavior next? Applications & site visit reports available at Corporations could be accredited for managing green practices by employees. Walmart, for example, employs 2,000,000 workers worldwide!

20 Behavior Science & Environmental Protection Share natural scientific foundation with other disciplines Behaviors up-stream to incidents What gets measured, gets managed E. Deming Tested, replicable, practical methods: Establish & change behavior Educate public (values & fit to sustainable culture) Train KSA s, transfer to community settings Motivate & sustain (communication, feedback loops, incentives) Interlock behaviors across organizational/community levels Design technology to support behavior Focus only on individual behavior: Unsustainable & resistance

21 Behavior Science & Environmental Protection Integrate GREEN with community management systems At UNR, let s build green systems Metrics: environmentally significant behaviors Align & interlock behaviors Incidence rates & outcome measures Evaluate effectiveness Into the foundations of the organization (e.g., UNR) Student/faculty/employee involvement & ownership Connect with education & compensation & evaluation procedures to reinforce green behaviors A possible co-op model to promote eco-friendly purchases? The UNR bookstore is a student co-op! Demonstrate leadership commitment vote for eco-friendly NV politicians & campus student leaders Recognize & celebrate any improvements Benefits other behaviors (health?)

22 Environmentally Significant Behavior Quiz 5 Names: What motivating operations might evoke green behavior on/near UNR campus? Antecedents Green & At Risk Behavior Consequence Recycles stuff, - Teased by peers Trashes stuff + Less effort

23 Thank You