Changing Human Behavior to Prevent Disease: The Importance of Targeting Automatic Processes

TLDR

Much of the global disease burden stems from health‑harming behaviors such as overeating, smoking, excessive drinking, and inactivity, yet interventions that rely on conscious reflection are largely ineffective because these behaviors are largely automatic and triggered by environmental cues. We propose that targeting the automatic bases of such behaviors may yield more effective interventions. We outline specific interventions that target automatic processes and propose methods to evaluate their impact on disease prevention.

Abstract

Much of the global burden of disease is associated with behaviors--overeating, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity--that people recognize as health-harming and yet continue to engage in, even when undesired consequences emerge. To date, interventions aimed at changing such behaviors have largely encouraged people to reflect on their behaviors. These approaches are often ineffectual, which is in keeping with the observation that much human behavior is automatic, cued by environmental stimuli, resulting in actions that are largely unaccompanied by conscious reflection. We propose that interventions targeting these automatic bases of behaviors may be more effective. We discuss specific interventions and suggest ways to determine whether and how interventions that target automatic processes can enhance global efforts to prevent disease.