{"id":13478,"date":"2025-10-23T14:14:23","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T12:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stadtmanufaktur.com\/?p=13478"},"modified":"2026-02-23T15:58:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T14:58:32","slug":"psychology-nudging-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stadtmanufaktur.com\/en\/magazin\/psychology-nudging\/","title":{"rendered":"The psychology of participation: Motivating participation with nudging"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cognitive dissonance – human, but surmountable?<\/h2><\/div>

Have you ever wondered why people often don’t do what they actually think is right?<\/b> We think people should get more involved in their own district, but the invitation to the citizens’ survey ends up in the bin unread. We know that it is better to use energy sparingly, but we continue to consume as usual.<\/p>\n

This inner contradiction between our values and our actions is called cognitive dissonance<\/strong>. Our brain loves consistency and strives for an inner balance. If this balance is disturbed, it creates an unpleasant feeling of tension and a strong urge to resolve this contradiction. <\/p>\n

But what does all this have to do with citizen participation?<\/strong> Our cognitive dissonance is often the invisible barrier that stops us from acting. This is exactly where an approach from behavioral psychology comes in: nudging<\/b>. The idea is to use gentle nudges to shape our environment in such a way <\/span>that the good decision becomes the easiest <\/strong>one and we humans can restore our inner balance.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Abstract:<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>

Tom Hartung explains the phenomenon of cognitive dissonance <\/b>as a challenge in people’s decision-making – and presents a solution: nudging<\/b>. City makers can use this method from behavioral psychology to motivate citizens to participate.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Why good intentions often fail<\/h2><\/h2><\/div>

Imagine that your psyche is a set of scales: two sides striving for balance. Your cognitions are interdependent and normally consistent – at least you unconsciously work towards this. However, if new events or information contradict your existing cognitions, the scales lose their balance. This exerts pressure and you experience the unpleasant feeling of cognitive dissonance. <\/p>\n

Let’s look at a very banal situation. <\/b>In the subway station, you are faced with the choice between stairs and escalators:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n