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.
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Find a path to becoming a Behavior Change. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/topic/msww6u/behavior
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.
Focuses on the small, incremental changes that can lead to significant behavior change over time.
Explores the science of habit formation and provides insights into how to change our habits.
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.
Provides a step-by-step guide to motivational interviewing, a counseling approach that helps people explore and resolve ambivalence about change.
Explores the concept of nudges, small changes in the environment that can encourage positive behavior change.
Provides a practical guide to behavior change for counselors and clients.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/msww6u/behavior