Many people try to change society for the better. The real challenge at this point is how to reach the best solutions if there is a large-scale change. Social change may be based on the relationship between beneficial behaviors and policies, according to new research on the subject.
The study, conducted by the University of Maine, the University of Vermont, and the University of Laval, explored how society can achieve massive and transformative social change, especially the social change needed to tackle the growing problem of climate change. According to the results obtained in the research, it is necessary to change both behavior and policy in order to achieve large-scale social change; moreover, it turns out that they should be together.
Fundamental societal change is possible with the right policy and behavior change
Researchers argue that policy is a costly measure to mitigate the effects of climate change, but which benefits groups. They examined a behavior that did not spread without support. Using an innovative combination of epidemiological and evolutionary techniques, simulating a society in which individuals live in groups and adopt the helpful behaviors of their peers, the researchers created a mathematical model that can spread virally if given the right conditions, provided it’s not too costly.
For the model in which adopters and non-adopters are considered, factors such as the diffusion of behavior both within the group and globally, the strength of institutions that support and facilitate the spread of behavior, and the cost of these institutions, Timothy Waring of the University of Maine, the author of the study, said, “Our model is unique because it is unique. ‘ combines behavior change and policy change in one system and encourages us to think more richly about social change. Large-scale social change is not just politics or behavior, but the emergence of a new self with the reinforcing system that combines both. how does a new model of behavior and policy spread?’ It allows us to ask new questions such as
In the study, which emphasized that both behavioral and political changes are necessary for a radical change, both alone are not sufficient for change; however, it is stated that policy change is much more critical. Researchers who observe that sometimes beneficial behavior can spread too far; He notes that the spread of behavior beyond groups with supportive policies can in some cases reduce perceived success and slow the spread of policy, thereby limiting beneficial social change overall.
Research can help understand when and what we should focus on for large-scale change
However, this simulation can help both bottom-up viral behavior spread and top-down suggests that projects that involve policy change below may be the best type of solution for major sustainability issues like climate change. Accordingly, such projects set an important example and can more easily spread among groups to trigger big changes.
On the subject, Waring noted, “For example, let’s say a state wants to spread participation in a new organic composting law that will benefit towns,” Waring said. requires effort for households, so behavior does not evolve on its own. This is a common problem for policy implementation. But if towns experiment, with systems that help support and spread behavior, successful city programs can spread across cities with household contributions, which can lead to effective, large-scale results in scale change.” uses expressions.
On the other hand, Laurent Hébert-Dufresne of the University of Vermont, lead author of the study, said, “Our model can help to understand how to balance the bottom-up and top-down effects so that new solutions can scale. For example, to normalize it is a process like composting across the country. It can help us determine when we should encourage behavior and instead focus on a local, well-funded pilot project to demonstrate the potential benefits of composting.”
In essence, this study says that for a great social change and a better world, only ‘making decisions’ or individuals taking steps alone will not be enough. For example, the ‘zero waste’ campaign launched in our country brought with it practices such as ‘paid grocery bags’.
However, in a society that is not conscious and does not reduce the use of plastic in all areas of life, as we can see from the research, such steps are of little value. At this point, all individuals and institutions need to take their responsibilities and act together by educating themselves in these areas.
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