Issue 42 - Nudges

Welcome to Issue 42 of Deep Life Reflections. This week, we explore the subtle dynamics of choice architecture and how it influences our decisions, investigate a true story that shook the foundations of a powerful institution, and contemplate the wisdom of choosing our battles wisely. Join me as we explore this week’s Friday Five.

1. What I’m Reading

Nudge. By Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein.

Have you noticed how small changes in your environment can lead you to make certain choices almost without thinking? That's the central idea in Nudge, the lifetime work of behavioural economists Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein. They show how subtle features of the way choices are presented—“nudges”—can significantly influence our decisions. These nudges aren’t about forcing people to choose something specific; they’re about designing environments that gently steer us towards better choices for ourselves and society.

Let me share a personal example to illustrate. My utility company sends a monthly comparison of my energy and water usage against that of my neighbours. Without direct instructions, this information is designed to nudge me to use less, so I can be more efficient than my neighbours. Of course, my neighbours get the same nudge, too.

Nudge provides several powerful ideas. Here’s three that stood out for me:

1. Small changes can have big impacts: Even minor and seemingly insignificant adjustments in the way choices are presented can significantly impact people’s behaviour.

2. The power of the default: The pre-selected choices, or defaults, are powerful because many people choose not to deviate from them, either out of convenience or indecision. Well-designed defaults can lead to better choices in areas like retirement savings or organ donation.

3. Simplifying choices: When faced with too many options, people can become overwhelmed and either make poor decisions or opt out of choosing altogether. Streamlining choices can guide us to better decisions.

Nudge isn’t just about personal choices; it’s also about the importance of designing systems that can better serve society, particularly in public policy. The brilliant psychologist and economist Daniel Kahneman said this of the book: “Few books can be said to have changed the world, but Nudge did.”

In a time marked by polarisation, conspiracy, and disinformation, Nudge reshapes our understanding of decision-making. It shows that through intentional and considerate design, we can make it easier for people to choose what’s best for themselves, while still upholding the principles of individual freedom.     

2. What I’m Watching

Spotlight (2015). Directed by Tom McCarthy.

I first saw Spotlight at the Dubai Film Festival in 2015, and it won Best Picture at the 2016 Academy Awards. It’s the true story of how the Boston Globe’s investigative journalist team, ‘Spotlight’, uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up with the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its foundations.

It’s a brilliant and powerful film, a story of uncovering terrible truths in a tightly knit community. It highlights the importance of high-quality investigative journalism; their tenacity, courage, and diligence to pull on the thinnest of threads because they have an intuitive sense of injustice. Michael Keaton is excellent as the no-nonsense, tough but fair editor, Walter ‘Robby’ Robinson, as is the rest of the cast, with Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams both nominated for Best Performance at the Academy Awards.

It's interesting that those three powerful ideas I highlighted from Nudge are also evident in Spotlight.

• Small changes can have big impacts: The Spotlight team’s decision to pursue a small story about a single priest led to the discovery that 249 priests in Boston had molested children, unraveling a larger, hidden truth that affected thousands of lives.

• The power of the default: The default position of both the Church and the community in Spotlight is initially one of denial or ignorance. The journalists challenge these defaults by bringing new information to light and talking empathetically with (now adult) victims. This prompts a reevaluation of these default beliefs, eventually changing the ‘default narrative’ and leading to significant repercussions for the Church.

• Simplifying choices: The journalists faced an overwhelming amount of data, sources, and potential leads. Not to mention powerful higher-up figures determined to keep the story buried. The film shows how the journalists structure their investigation, focusing on specific aspects so they can be most effective in their decisions. Each new piece of information shapes their next step.

Spotlight isn’t just an award-winning true story, but also a case study in how choice architecture and decision-making play out in a real-world, high-stakes environment. It’s also a testament to the importance of deliberate, pain-staking, and in-depth investigative journalism in this time of two-sentence judge, jury, and executioners on social platforms.

3. What I’m Contemplating

Reflecting on this week’s theme of ‘nudges’ towards more thoughtful decision-making, I’m reminded of the popular wisdom to choose your battles wisely. It suggests that not every issue warrants confrontation. Life is filled with opportunities to choose between making a big deal out of something or simply letting it go, realising it doesn’t really matter.

Of course, there are moments when we must stand our ground, argue, confront, or even fight for our beliefs. However, too often, people contest over practically anything. This can lead to a life filled with frustration, losing sight of what’s truly important—typically our health, safety, and relationships.

Life is rarely the way we want it to be, and other people rarely act as we would like them to—for good reason. They are not us. They carry their own unique experiences, strengths, and perspectives. Why should they act according to our expectations? There are always going to be people who disagree with you and do things differently. If we fight against this principle of life, we’ll spend most of our lives fighting battles.

A more peaceful way to live is to decide consciously which battles are worth fighting and which are better left alone. Consider this a mental ‘nudge’ to yourself: save your mental energy for the decisions and actions that truly matter.

Because you never know when you need to draw on it.    

4. A Quote to note

“When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice.”

- William James

5. A Question for you

Can you identify a time when simplifying your choices led to a better decision, and how can you apply that strategy more often using ‘nudges’?

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Thanks for reading and being part of the Deep Life Journey community. Have a great weekend.

James