Over the next few weeks Pedro Martins hosts a conversation with Richard Shotton and Will Hanmer-Lloyd on how to navigate COVID-19 and beyond.
In what we call “the episode Dominic Cummings should have listened to” we discuss a range of behavioural techniques, including the messenger effect and the foot in the door technique, and how the government could apply these to ensure people obey restrictions.
We talk about how we need to tread carefully when it comes to confirmation bias and the backfire effect, but how framing a message using empathy and understanding can help to engage positively with those who choose to disobey guidelines, whilst identifying similarities with commercial brands and how they can use these tactics to turn rejecters into customers.