Greetings, my Friends

I am about to thinly embark on a subject that has fascinated me since I first heard the term… “Choice Architecture, ” also known as the “Nudge Theory.”

I say “Thinly” because in my research I, as usual, have found a plethora of information, explanations and examples of how “Choice Architecture” is practiced when we, the consumers, are buying food, buying a car, buying a TV, buying a house, buying clothes, joining a gym, trying to stay on a specific eating plan and on and on and on.

Have you heard of these terms and do you know how they play a part in your life?

This term coined by Thaler and Sunstein (2008) refers to the practice of influencing choice by “organizing the context in which people make decisions” (Thaler et al., 2013, p. 428; see also nudge). A frequently mentioned example is how food is displayed in cafeterias, where offering healthy food at the beginning of the line or at eye level can contribute to healthier choices. Choice Architecture includes many other behavioral tools that affect decisions, such as defaults, framing, or decoyoptions.  Source

The terms were new to me. However, I liked the ability to put a name to what I often realize are marketing ploys to direct me to what the advertisers want me to purchase,  whether  for not it is affordable for me,  or in my best interest and unravel how we are influenced in making the choices we make.

I first heard this term while in a discussion about the best way to be successful in changing ones eating habits. Now the meaning and theory of “Choice Architecture” is not new to me.  I just did not know it had a name, a scientific study, a book about it and that the study won the Nobel Prize.

Many of the businesses in the diet industry have suggested “Choice Architecture” without defining it as “Choice Architecture.” Most will suggest that before you begin a new eating plan/diet plan, that you remove everything from your cupboards, pantry, and refrigerator that is not on your new eating/dieting plan. By doing this,  you will not be tempted to eat foods that do not support your loss of weight or maintaining a healthy weight. This is, I now know, “Choice Architecture” and by removing all foods you cannot or should not eat on your new eating/diet plan you have become a “Choice Architect.”

Would you agree this is a plan for success? I know for me, this is the best way to be successful in embarking on and practicing a new eating plan to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Therefore, I have no issue with using “Choice Architecture” in designing my pantry, refrigerator, and cupboards to help me be successful.

However, when I was discussing this action of removing all temptations from the kitchen and candy jars, the question came up about “what if only one person in the household is on a new eating plan or dieting plan and others who live in the household are not dieting?”  This is when the term “Choice Architecture” came up. I would be practicing “Choice Architecture” for my success but is it fair to limit the choices of others in the household….. Say What????

Well, Dang… now I needed to research how I could practice “Choice Architecture” without infringing on the rest of the family. Can this even be accomplished? Do I pick cupboards that specifically have only my food in them? Do I buy a small refrigerator just for myself? Do I fix my foods when no one else is around and eat in a separate room? Not very likely that this would be a long-term arrangement if I am to keep living in a multigenerational household. Now what?

So far what I have found is that either “Everyone is In or Nobody Wins”…..

Hopefully, in your household, everyone will come on board and everyone will subscribe to eat a healthy and balanced plan to help the one who is needing to lose weight. What about the goodies and snacks? I guess those who do not have a weight or health issue can find creative ways to have their snacks outside of the home.

How does choice architecture play out in your own life? Leave a comment below or come visit me on Facebook to share!