SSP Forum: BJ Fogg on Language and Behavior Change
The
Symbolic Systems Forum
presents
How the English Language Hinders Behavior Change
BJ Fogg
Stanford Medical School
Monday, January 24, 2022
12:15-1:15 pm
Everyone is welcome to join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android (requires logging in to a Zoom account): https://stanford.zoom.us/j/99713091022?pwd=b0hna3VRUkFWWHl0TUEwcTRQYktwQT09
ABSTRACT:
One surprising barrier to improving our habits is the English language. Our vocabulary for behavior change is impoverished. And frankly, I don’t know why. On one hand, we have common words (like reward and habit) that are ambiguous. On the other hand, we lack English words for important behavior-related concepts and processes. I’ve grappled with these limitations over the last 12 years, as I’ve coached over 40,000 people in habit formation. In this talk I will share some common examples, explain why they are problematic, and share ways I’ve tried to address these challenges by coining new words. To promote a better technical vocabulary, I’ve compiled a glossary of key terms in Behavior Design, which I will share during this talk.
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