We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Behavior Change

Save
May 1, 2024 Updated May 9, 2025 22 minute read

Behavior change, at its core, is the study and application of how individuals and groups alter their actions and habits. It's a field that investigates why people do what they do, and what it takes to shift those behaviors, whether on a personal level, within organizations, or across entire societies. This exploration can range from understanding why someone chooses a particular brand of cereal to deciphering the complex factors that lead to large-scale social movements. The field is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing insights from psychology, sociology, economics, and communication, among others.

The allure of behavior change often lies in its profound real-world impact. Imagine the satisfaction of designing a public health campaign that successfully encourages more people to get vaccinated, or developing a workplace program that measurably boosts employee well-being and productivity. Perhaps the idea of crafting marketing strategies that ethically guide consumers toward more sustainable choices ignites your interest. These are just a few glimpses into the diverse and engaging applications of behavior change principles. The field offers a unique blend of analytical thinking and creative problem-solving, with the ultimate reward of making a tangible difference in people's lives and the world around them.

Introduction to Behavior Change

Understanding behavior change begins with recognizing its broad scope and the diverse disciplines that contribute to its foundations. It's not just about willpower; it's a science that examines the intricate interplay of individual psychology, social influences, and environmental factors.

Definition and Scope of Behavior Change

Path to Behavior Change

Take the first step.
We've curated 24 courses to help you on your path to Behavior Change. Use these to develop your skills, build background knowledge, and put what you learn to practice.
Sorted from most relevant to least relevant:

Share

Help others find this page about Behavior Change: by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Behavior Change.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change, a widely used model for understanding and changing behavior. It offers practical strategies for overcoming bad habits and making lasting change.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the psychology of change, including the theories, models, and research on how people change.
Explores social psychology as it relates to understanding behavior and behavior change in individuals.
Explores social psychology as it relates to behavior change, behavior change strategies, and the effect of others on the behavior of individuals. This book is particularly helpful for understanding how to effect behavior change on a group level as well as on an individual level.
Provides a framework for understanding and overcoming the challenges of behavior change.
Table of Contents
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser