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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 25, 2026

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Unintentional behaviour change.

Robert Aunger1, Valerie Curtis2

  • 1London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom. robert.aunger@lshtm.ac.uk http://sites.google.com/site/robertvaunger/

The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|August 28, 2014
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study highlights unintentional behavior change, arguing that habitual actions, common in public health, often bypass intentions. An evolutionary perspective must consider all evolved behavioral responses for effective change strategies.

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Science
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Current behavior change models often focus on intentionality.
  • Habitual behaviors are a significant component of human actions.
  • Public health campaigns frequently target habitual behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critique existing behavior change frameworks for overlooking unintentional change.
  • To advocate for a broader understanding of behavioral responses within an evolutionary context.
  • To emphasize the role of habitual behaviors in interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of existing behavior change theories.
  • Literature review on habitual behavior and evolutionary psychology.
  • Argumentative synthesis of findings.

Main Results:

  • Intentions are insufficient to explain or modify many behaviors, particularly habitual ones.
  • Unintentional behavior change mechanisms are prevalent and significant.
  • Existing models may fail to account for the full spectrum of evolved behavioral responses.

Conclusions:

  • Behavior change interventions should incorporate strategies addressing unintentional and habitual actions.
  • An evolutionary approach offers a more comprehensive framework for understanding behavior.
  • Future research should explore the interplay between intentionality, habit, and unintentional change.