We asked students currently studying in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science to reflect on something from 2021 that has had an impact on them, whether a key theory from the classroom, an idea from an event or a book; and to think what key message they want to take into 2022.
Nicha Surawattananon (MSc Behavioural Science)
Throughout the programme, many theories and lessons have been eye opening for me as they allow me to think outside the box of conventional economics which we think that they are “rational”. Many lessons I have learned so far have taught me to see the real world, the real human behaviour. One of the core courses, PB405: Foundations in Behavioural Science by Professor Liam Delaney and Dr Christian Krekel, provide many core concepts that could be applied to tackle many world challenges. The one that strikes me the most is the role of emotion that could influence people’s decisions.
In this class, we discussed the role of incidental emotion, which is the emotion that originates from one situation and could affect in the different domain. This has influenced me to explore more about emotions triggered by mental health that could affect daily life, productivity, and overall wellbeing.
After graduation, I hope to apply the lessons learned from LSE to make the world a better place, particularly to improve people’s wellbeing. One of my lifetime goals is to destigmatize mental health in Thailand. My first milestone is to write and publish my dissertation in this topic and to design behavioural interventions to overcome this challenge.
Isabella Paschuini (MSc Behavioural Science)
One important characteristic of our society is that we tend to understand financial growth as a premise for many decisions, a non-negotiable value. Truth is, there are many other forms of values that people and institutions should look for, other than money value. I’ve read the book “This Could Be Our Future” by Yancey Stricker, co-founder of Kickstarter, which helped me to understand how financial optimisation became such a powerful force in our society. The author goes through economic facts and figures to make his point and proposes a new way to look for values other than financial value for a more fulfilling life and a sustainable world.
In 2022, I would like to see more institutions dedicating time and efforts to understand the humans that make them thrive: workers, customers, community members. Behavioural science has tools to offer on this, and I would like to see more institutions interested in applying scientific knowledge and methods to change people’s behaviour for the better.
Tasnima Iqbal (MSc Social and Public Communication)
“A picture is worth a thousand words” they say, but I say it opens the gate for millions of emotions. The realisation came suddenly while attending a Graffiti Workshop by LSE LIFE back in November 2021.
Brick Lane is famous for street art and, while it is great to explore them on your own, it is greater to have a guide to walk you through the minds of the artists. It is fascinating how each artist has a different genre, ways of expressing, and styles to express themselves. Among many outstanding creations, I particularly liked the paintings of Thierry Noir who was the first person to paint the Berlin wall with vivid colours as a reaction to melancholy, sadness, and stress of the people living close to the wall back in 1980s. Similar art by the artist was replicated here in London. There was also an art by a homeless person who used to paint symbolic images of the nice people he met on street. This event made me realise the power of this silent expression, the catharsis of the artist’s heart touching that of hundreds of others, without a word!
Another year gone in a flash! In 2022, I want to learn more about people, understand them better, learn about myself, gain new experiences, find happiness, and attempt to make the world a little better for people through kindness, empathy, love, and the power of expression.
Sam Goertz (MSc Behavioural Science)
On November 7th, the MSc Behavioural Science cohort watched and discussed the film ‘Three Identical Strangers’. It’s a powerful documentary about triplets separated at birth, their reunion, and the long-standing tussle between nature and nurture over who reigns supreme. Guided by Dr Ganga Shreedhar, our cohort debated the questions arising from the film at length, particularly the lack of ethical standards involved in a study that was central to the documentary’s events. The discussion about ethics and the ambiguity surrounding research in behavioural science was deeply thoughtful, open, and passionate. I was amazed by the extent to which my coursemates had wrestled these thorny ethical issues. Well beyond the film, I felt inspired, knowing that the future of behavioural science will be built by such thoughtful, principled, and brilliant minds.
In 2022 I aim to build on the well of inspiration built by the film discussion and many more I have shared with my coursemates. I would like to focus on encouraging and practicing “behavioural science for good” to adapt Richard Thaler’s phrase “nudge for good”. I am particularly interested in the wider use of behavioural science in public policy, including but not limited to nudging. As has been emphasized throughout our programme, insights generated through behavioural science have consequences across sectors and domains. There is still much to be done in applying these insights for the better, but with the class of 2022, the future is in eminently good hands.
Notes:
- The views expressed in this post are of the authors and not the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science, nor the LSE.
- Banner image: MSc Behavioural Science film night, November 2021
- Featured image: Brick Lane graffiti art. Image provided by Tasnima Iqbal.