How ‘Boosting’ Empowers Individuals to Make Better Decisions

A new review from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development shows how “boosting” can empower individuals to make better decisions, countering manipulative influences and strengthening self-control in an increasingly complex world.

In a world where consumer environments exploit natural human tendencies, a new behavioral science technique called “boosting” is emerging as a powerful tool to empower decision-making skills. Unlike traditional nudging, which subtly steers behavior, boosting fosters self-control and enhances decision-making abilities. This transformative approach is championed by Stefan Herzog and Ralph Hertwig from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin.

“The challenges we face today require more than subtle nudges. Boosting is about empowering people to take control of their lives and make decisions that are beneficial for themselves and for society,” Herzog, senior researcher at the Center for Adaptive Rationality at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, said in a news release.

In their review, published in the Annual Review of Psychology, the researchers explore why empowerment, activation and maturity are crucial in policy initiatives aimed at controlling behavior.

Our daily environments — from fast food advertisements to social media algorithms — are designed to manipulate behavior for commercial gain, often leading to adverse impacts on individual and societal well-being.

“Our consumer environment is designed to exploit our natural tendencies,” added Herzog. “Boosting is essential because it helps people develop the skills to navigate and resist these manipulative forces.”

Boosting focuses on equipping individuals with essential skills for today’s highly engineered world. Examples include teaching basic statistics to better understand probabilities or employing lateral reading techniques for online fact-checking.

A straightforward way to integrate boosting and nudging is through self-nudging, where individuals modify their surroundings to align with their personal goals. One practical example is placing unhealthy snacks out of easy reach to improve dietary choices.

While boosting has clear advantages, Herzog and Hertwig stress that it should be part of a broader policy strategy. Systemic changes, such as incentives and regulations, are also necessary to address the intricate challenges of our manipulated environments. However, these changes often face delays or controversy, making it vital to arm people with the skills to maintain their autonomy in the meantime.

Critically, the implementation of boosting must be inclusive and fair. Policymakers must ensure that boosts are accessible to all socio-economic groups to avoid deepening existing inequalities.

Hertwig, director of the Center for Adaptive Rationality at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, warned against placing the burden of responsibility solely on individuals, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds who may lack the resources to engage with complex boosts.

“Boosting must be applicable and fair to all,” Hertwig said in the news release. “Our goal should be to give all citizens the opportunity to develop the skills they need to succeed in today’s world. And boosting aims to support active decision-making and autonomous action, because both are essential for our well-being, life satisfaction and health.”

The researchers highlight the untapped potential of behavioral science to shape public policy in our complex world. They argue for a comprehensive policy mix that includes not only systemic changes like regulations and incentives but also behavioral approaches such as boosting.