Last week (May 5th-6th), I had the great pleasure of attending the BPS annual conference whose themes this year included culture and identity, disaster, trauma and crisis, the social brain and, one of my current areas of interest, behaviour change. As ever, the conference was an engaging mix of symposiums, workshops and keynotes on a wide variety of topics. Having attended two out of three days of the conference, I would like to give a mention to some of my personal highlights from the first day of the conference (note: I may review individual research papers from conference speakers in more detail at a later date).
Symposium - Cognitive and social influence on alcohol consumption and food intake: implications for behaviour change.
Matt Field (University of Liverpool) On the whole, alcohol consumption is falling but regular drinks are consuming more than ever. Also, obesity has been termed as 'the new smoking'. Both these issues are causing great costs to the NHS. This symposium focused on policy and choice architecture interventions which show promise in these areas. Field was an engaging speaker, opening and chairing the symposium with ease.
Andrew Jones (University of Liverpool): Inhibition training on alcohol intake in problem drinkers Inhibition is the inability to stop, change or delay behaviours that are longer appropriate. Jones used the analogy of a traffic light turning red, which makes us stop. Using computer-based lab tasks to improve inhibitory control towards alcohol seems to show promise. This paper discussed the possibility of using general inhibitory training, limiting the exposure to alcohol related cues, attention bias and subsequent drinking. An interesting talk, with Jones responding well to questions regarding the methodology used and the possibility of applying the research in a more realistic environment.
Charlotte Hardman (University of Liverpool): Don’t look at chocolate: attentional bias modification This talk began by discussing the impact of the obesogenic environment, causing attentional bias towards unhealthy foods and leading to subsequent eating behaviours. Theoretical underpinning from incentive sensitisation theory could explain this process, says Hardman. However, it is difficult to modify attentional bias towards food as we are so deeply pre-disposed. Perhaps the route to take is to use this training to increase healthy habits rather than discourage unhealthy ones.
Eric Robinson (University of Liverpool): Perceived eating norms and energy intake: from lab to behaviour change
As humans are very social in nature, we use the behaviour of others to provide us with adaptive information. This can also be seen in social eating behaviour in animals and in children who observe the facial expressions of their fellow diners. Research suggests that people tend to consume more food when in larger group. Robinson's research showed that we are socially influenced even when we are eating alone, if we are made aware of a possible social norm.
Paul Christiansen: Controlling alcohol consumption: the role of beliefs
A video of a drunken Homer Simpson began this talk, with his good intentions of having only one drink or two to 'whet his whistle', ending in a naked dance around a maypole! As we are aware, controlling your alcohol consumption once you've started drinking is difficult, often called the alcohol priming effect, leading to impairments in inhibitory control. Previous research has used placebo drinks, atomised with a spray of vodka. However, if people BELIEVE they have had a drink, this has been shown to alter their actual behaviour, resulting the control being skewed. Placebo drinks have been shown to increase cravings and impair cognition. However, Christiansen may have found a simple solution through increasing ego depletion. Implicitly telling someone that they are in the top percentage of people for controlling their responses, actually increased their ability to show inhibitory control. Interestingly, explicit messages of control were not effective. An extremely fascinating topic, well presented and memorable. Definitely an area I shall be reading around further.
Symposium - Understanding the impact of technology on behaviours
Convenor: Benjamin R. Cowan (University College Dublin)
Anna L. Cox (University College London Interaction Centre): Goals, nudges and habits: designing digital behaviour change technologies
Technology has the ability to capture our attention, such as our constant checking of our phones in the absence of a message tone! Therefore, we should be able to use technology to create good habits. However, current apps use reminders and monitoring, which may not be sufficient to form a new habit. An evaluation of existing habit formation apps was disappointing, with most not utilising theory. Cox expressed a need for collaboration between psychologists and human computer interaction experts to reap the best benefits from health technology on behaviour. A sentiment I fully endorse, and well conveyed to the audience.
Oscar De Bruijn (Manchester Business School): The effect of media on grounding in task related computer mediated conversation
This talk began by showing how communication has evolved alongside new technology, with different styles being used for different platforms (for example email v.s. instant messaging). These different methods of communication have different costs, with email having a delayed response but IM being shorter and less detailed in content. Important factors to consider when designing interventions using technologically advanced delivery methods. Again, Bruijn highlighted that technology is not designed for people, but people merely adapt, suggesting a need for psychologists to be involved in the design of new technology.
Ducan Brumby (University College London Interaction Centre): Technology and behaviour: it's all about time
This talk focused on the trade-offs between technology and time. With the introduction of wearable technology, this minimises the time between intention and action, making the process more accessible as a whole. Also, Brumby explored how we interpret forcible phone calls as a costly interruption to our time, so possible changes in design are needed. An extremely interesting presentation, despite it not being my specific area of interest. Perhaps when designing health-based technology it is important to consider the perceived time 'cost' of engaging with these methods.
Jens Binder (Nottingham Trent University): Managing online network diversity: The complexities of social spheres
Social networking facilitates socialisation but appear to cause online tension claims Binder. Offline social spheres are easily controlled and have clearly defined social norms, whereas online spheres often ignore boundaries. Having a diverse social network predicts tension, but only online. Furthermore, research by Binder shows that social network diversity predicts lower trust but only in a Western context. A well structured and informative talk. I asked a question of Binder and Cox about the tension that social support via apps might cause, with individuals frequently posting information that others might find to be in conflict with their ideals and social norms. Cox claimed the solution to this is collaboration between psychologists and technology experts to understand and enable social spheres to be used to change behaviour in a theoretical manner.
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