Autonomy, Belonging, Competence by Design

The concept of design has evolved, taking on various meanings in our dynamic world. The essence of GIG’s vision is to harness the power of design as a one way to drive change.

Understanding that your environment has a profound impact on behaviors, you utilize design to influence actions positively. The beauty lies in the fact that design can serve as a catalyst for what you both want and need to accomplish, offering a welcome relief from the reliance on sheer willpower and motivation.

Consider the power of a product—its placement, and characteristics. By strategically bringing individuals into a shared space, values come to the forefront. When values are not just acknowledged but also respected and aligned with actions, the result is a setting where individuals can challenge and empower each other effectively.

One effective strategy involves the implementation of a designed system or process. How you think, create, and modify your actionable environment systematically impacts your responses to various situations. Leveraging systems and processes as nudges can significantly influence specific behaviors, making empowerment a tangible outcome.

Research consistently highlights the positive correlation between whole person health and factors like autonomy, belonging, and competence. Let's break it down:

Autonomy: This encompasses a sense of self, providing the freedom to think, act, and create both psychologically and physically.

Belonging: This entails a sense of being part of a whole, fostering acceptance, support, and the celebration of one's perceptions through meaningful connections with others.

Competence: This involves a sense of effectiveness, seeking knowledge through opportunities to practice and experiment in the pursuit of growth.

While these ABC's are fundamental to vitality, there's a delightful addition— Novelty.

Novelty, in simple terms, is both new and pleasurable. Whether disrupting rituals or routines or introducing sensational experiences, novelty rewards individuals with meaningful actions that leave a lasting impact.

Recognize the power of those principles by consciously integrating autonomy, belonging, competence, and novelty into your environments and interactions. This is one path to empowerment.

REFERENCES

Byerly, H., Balmford, A., Ferraro, P. J., Hammond Wagner, C., Palchak, E., Polasky, S., ... & Fisher, B. (2018). Nudging pro‐environmental behavior: evidence and opportunities. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 16(3), 159-168.

Wendel, S. (2020). Designing for behavior change: Applying psychology and behavioral economics. O'Reilly Media.

Martela, F., Ryan, R. M., & Steger, M. F. (2018). Meaningfulness as satisfaction of autonomy, competence, relatedness, and beneficence: Comparing the four satisfactions and positive affect as predictors of meaning in life. Journal of happiness studies, 19(5), 1261-1282.

Reis, H. T., Sheldon, K. M., Gable, S. L., Roscoe, J., & Ryan, R. M. (2018). Daily well-being: The role of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In Relationships, well-being and behaviour (pp. 317-349). Routledge.

Kashdan, Todd. How to Design a Psychologically Ideal Life: The Case for Novelty. ToddKashdan.com