Changeology

The pressing issues of today clamour for solutions. Yet, to a surprising degree, past and present efforts to effect social change have been based on little more than hunches. Changeology dispels many of the myths that prevent social-change projects from succeeding, and replaces them with the best of what we know from social and motivational psychology, and with lessons from projects that have worked.

This book offers proven ways of influencing the behaviour of human beings for the better. It deals with change projects both large and small, and in almost any area of activity, but with an emphasis on key topics such as climate change, poverty, obesity, AIDS, and tobacco and drug use. It is aimed at a worldwide audience of people who are acting to make change in their corporations, cities, and neighbourhoods, as well as in their own lives.

Changeology simplifies a vast body of theory and practice into six principles: buzz, hope, enabling environments, sticky solutions, ‘can do’, and ‘the right inviter’. These are explained with compelling real-life case studies and a look at the hard evidence. The book is written in an easy, accessible style, laced with many anecdotes and stories, which readers will find encouraging as well as compelling.