This course Behaviour change for sustainability provided a theoretical foundation and practical experience in designing behavior change interventions for sustainability. It covered human behavioral systems, theories of behavior change, self-determination theory of motivation, psychological barriers to sustainable development, environmental criticisms, and ethics. The course also included practical exercises in behavior change design, developed in collaboration with fellow students.

Key Takeaways

The course equipped me with foundational skills and deep insights into the current fields of behavioral research and behavioral design. The sustainability context was key, as it directly applies to how we design sustainability-focused software products to drive behavioral change across operational roles.

• Understanding the complexities of behavioral change, both generally and specifically for sustainability.
• Diagnosing behavioral barriers using the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior) model.
• Generating intervention ideas using the BCW (Behavior Change Wheel) model.
• Understanding the SDT (Self-Determination Theory) in the context of sustainability.
• Applying techniques such as nudging and gamification for behavioural change.
• Understanding ethics in sustainability.