Encouraging Healthful Dietary Behavior in a Hospital Cafeteria
Subtitle: A Field Study using Theories from Social Psychology and Behavioral Economics
Contributors: McGinn, Kathleen L.; Tucker, Anita L.; Gortmaker, Steven L.; Siegel, Robert M.
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Description: Public policy efforts to curb obesity often adhere to a rational actor model of human behavior, asserting that consumer behavior will change provided proper economic incentives, nutritional information, and health education. However, rigorous academic research related to such questions remains limited in scope and appears inconclusive as to the success of such economic and cognitive interventions. In contrast, research in social psychology and behavioral economics suggests that decision making is partially based on heuristics, or rules of thumb, and susceptible to powerful cognitive biases. External cues can subtly influence decision making in powerful ways.
Notes: Keywords: behavioral economics, cognitive bias, decision making, food, psychology, public health.

Thesis Ph.D. Harvard University 2013