Nudging Quotes

“A choice architect has the responsibility for organizing the context in which people make decisions. [T]here are many parallels between choice architecture and more traditional forms of architecture. A crucial parallel is that there is no such thing as a “neutral” design. [A]s good architects know, seemingly arbitrary decisions, such as where to locate the bathrooms, will have subtle influences on how the people who use the building interact. [S]mall and apparently insignificant details can have major impacts on people’s behavior. [I]n many cases, the power of these small details comes from focusing the attention of users in a particular direction. Good architects realize that although they can’t build the perfect building, they can make some design choices that will have beneficial effects. And just as a building architect must eventually build some particular building, a choice architect must [for example] choose a particular arrangement of food options at lunch, and by so doing she can influence what people eat. She can nudge.”
― Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein

“This is the secret of propaganda:
He, who is the target of propaganda,
should be completely immersed in the ideas of propaganda,
without him ever noticing, that he is being immersed.

Das ist das Geheimnis der Propaganda:
Den, den die Propaganda fassen will,
ganz mit den Ideen der Propaganda zu durchtränken,
ohne dass er überhaupt merkt, dass er durchtränkt wird.”
― Joseph Goebbels

“Can subliminal advertising be seen as a form of libertarian paternalism? After all, it steers people’s choices, but it does not make their decisions for them. So do we embrace subliminal advertising—so long as it is in the interest of desirable ends? [C]ompare subliminal advertising to something just as cunning. If you want people to lose weight, one effective strategy is to put mirrors in the cafeteria. When people see themselves in the mirror, they may eat less if they are chubby. Is this okay? And if mirrors are acceptable, what about mirrors that are intentionally unflattering? Are such mirrors an acceptable strategy in the cafeteria? If so, what should we think about flattering mirrors in a fast food restaurant?”
― Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein