Current Directions in Psychological Science

A Decision-Science Approach to Health-Behavior Change

Abstract

Behavior change has the potential to radically impact health outcomes. Successfully influencing health behavior requires an understanding of the decision processes underlying health choices and techniques to harness those psychological factors in the service of effective interventions. The way in which information is presented, social consequences of behavior, and methods for guiding behavior without trying to change beliefs and attitudes are examples of using decision science in the service of health.