The effects of nudges: one-shot only?: Exploring the temporal spillover effects of a default nudge

Nudges, such as defaults, are generally found to be effective in guiding immediate behavioural decisions. However, little is known about whether the effect of a nudge can be lasting, meaning that it spills over to subsequent similar choices without the presence of a nudge. In three experiments, we explored the temporal spillover effects of a default nudge. The results of Experiments 1 (N = 1,077) and 2 (N = 1,036) suggest that nudging participants into completing a longer questionnaire affected their decision for the same behaviour a day later without the presence of a nudge. However, nudging participants into a healthier food choice in Experiment 3 (N = 969) did not result in such a temporal spillover effect. The results indicated that participants' change in attitude towards the nudged behaviour may partly explain the temporal spillover effects. These findings suggest that for some, but not all behaviours, default nudges may have the potential to yield temporal spillover effects and warrant a further investigation of boundary conditions and facilitators of the spillover effects of nudges.Prevention, Population and Disease management (PrePoD)Public Health and primary car

When nudgees become nudgers: exploring the use of self-nudging to promote fruit intake

The current study explored (1) the immediate and prolonged effects of self-nudges promoting fruit intake in the home environment, (2) whether the effect of self-nudges on fruit intake persists after self-nudges are no longer used (i.e. a temporal spillover effect) and (3) whether self-nudges can install healthy eating habits that, in turn, explain the temporal spillover effect. Participants (N = 331) were randomly assigned to either a control or self-nudge condition in which they had to choose a self-nudge promoting fruit consumption for 8 weeks. Thereafter, participants were asked to remove the self-nudge for 1 week to assess a possible temporal spillover effect. Results showed a positive effect of the self-nudges on fruit consumption right after implementation that continued during the 8 weeks in which the self-nudge was implemented, which was accompanied by an increase in fruit intake habit strength. However, a mixed picture emerged regarding the temporal spillover effect and no support was found for a mediation effect of habit strength. Although this study is only a first exploration of self-nudging to increase healthy food consumption, results indicate that self-nudging may be a promising extension of traditional nudging that can influence behaviour beyond out-of-home settings.Prevention, Population and Disease management (PrePoD

De schrik der volkeren. Xerxes als exemplum in de Latijnse literatuur

De Perzische vorst Xerxes wordt in de Latijnse literatuur veelvuldig als voorbeeld van tyrannie, hoogmoed en wreedheid opgevoerd. De verhalen lijken (in)direct afkomstig van het verslag van de Griekse geschiedschrijver Herodotus, die zo'n vijftig jaar na Xerxes' inval in Griekenland zijn werk schreef. In de Latijnse literatuur komt de figuur van Xerxes niet vaak in historische verslagen voor, maar des te meer als gemeenplaats in retorisch getoonzette werken. In dit hoofdstuk passeert vooral de 'exemplarische' literatuur de revue, zoals dat van de schrijvers Cornelius Nepos en Valerius Maximus, maar ook komt de uitgebreide Xerxesreceptie in geschiedschrijving en retorica aan de orde. Xerxes blijkt vooral als oosters desppot in een orientalistisch discours geschetst te worden