Behavioral science is the science of how people behave. Or not. Working with the public, you know that human behavior can be hard (but not impossible) to predict and uncivil at times, delightful at others. Here you can read a collection of the latest news, handpicked by our seasoned and expert facilitators and trainers. Keeping up to date with the latest in behavioral science helps you better understand the people with whom you work and those you represent. And better understanding leads to better anticipation and preparation. As a result, better communication and facilitation is bound to happen. Read on, fearless facilitator, and be sure to send us a note about your reactions.
We’ve often referenced the Edelman Trust Barometer as one credible source for a lot of ongoing evidence that shows people just don’t trust institutions – especially government. Turns out, some of the most recent data indicates that women are even less trusting than men when it comes to institutions....
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This story supports the old adage of no good deed goes unpunished. Most of the people that we work with, particularly those working in the public sector, are believers in the greater good – they do things for the right, ethical reasons. But more and more we find smart ...
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A pretty credible study concludes, in part, Teenage males were more likely than average to be self-centered, but this proportion decreased with age. These 18-year-olds are going to grow up, except some people don’t grow up, and they become senior political statesmen....
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We’ve frequently talked about facts versus perceptions in past issues of this newsletter, and how differently people tend to view the same things. As it was once said, “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” Here are some things you’ll find interesting....
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This isn’t about changing engineers (that’s just creepy), it’s about helping technically oriented people understand how and why people resist change. Most of the work that you do ultimately leads to some kind of change that people are required to accept in their lives, and believe it or not, there’s ...
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Working with the public and facilitating groups, especially oftentimes upset people, isn’t for the faint of heart – it takes courage, and courage requires confidence. For most healthy people, I think confidence can ebb and flow; it isn’t an absolute constant, and sometimes, when confidence is a little low it’s ...
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Good issue and stakeholder assessments are key to planning and executing effective public participation projects. The more we really know about the issues and nuances and the more we learn about the people who will be or think they’ll be affected by some action or plan, the more we’ll understand ...
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