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The Ethics of Behaviour Change Technologies
Beyond Nudging and Persuasion
The Ethics of Behaviour Change Technologies
Beyond Nudging and Persuasion
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Description
This book investigates behaviour change technologies (BCTs) from an ethical perspective, examining the broader societal and philosophical implications of these types of technologies. These technologies-ranging from fitness trackers and smart home systems to digital nudging and persuasive AI-are increasingly shaping our choices, habits, and lifestyles. This book moves beyond nudging and persuasion to explore a broader spectrum of ethical concerns, including autonomy, privacy, trust, responsibility, and social justice. Contributors from leading scholars do not merely critique BCTs but also offer constructive ethical frameworks and ethical analysis for their responsible design and implementation.
Table of Contents
Joel Anderson (Utrecht University, the Netherlands), Lily E. Frank (Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands), Andreas Spahn (Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands) and Arianna Sica (Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands)
Part I. Foundations
1. Psychology of Behaviour Change
Wokje Abrahamse (Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand) and Nadja Contzen (The Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Switzerland)
Chapter 2. Technologies of Behaviour Change
Harri Oinas-Kukkonen (University of Oulu, Finland) and Eunice E.Y.F. Agyei (University of Oulu, Finland)
Chapter 3. Guiding Hands or Invisible Chains? On the Ethics and Philosophy of Behaviour Change Technologies
Andreas Spahn (Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands) and Lily E. Frank (Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands)
Part II. Values and Principles
Chapter 4. Control, Personal Autonomy, and Behaviour Change Technologies
Sven Nyholm (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany)
Chapter 5. Transparency and Trust in Behaviour Change Technologies
Philip J. Nickel (Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands)
Chapter 6. Privacy, Consent, and Behaviour Change Technologies
Titus Stahl (University of Groningen, the Netherlands)
Chapter 7. Social Justice, Autonomous Agency, and Interpersonal Recognition
Joel Anderson (Utrecht University, the Netherlands)
Part III. Cases and Applications
Chapter 8. Limiting Driver Autonomy for Safety and Sustainability
Jilles Smids (Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
Chapter 9. 'Good Patients Manage Their Health': A Critical Conceptual Analysis of the Patient as Health Manager Using Smart Technology
Tania Moerenhout (University of Otago, New Zealand) and Katleen Gabriels (Maastricht University, the Netherlands)
Chapter 10. The Ethics of Using Boosts to Change Behaviour
Till Grüne-Yanoff (Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden)
Chapter 11. The Cumulative Impact of Behaviour Change Interventions
Will Tiemeijer (Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
Chapter 12. Pandemic Behaviour Change Technology, Autonomy, and Confucian Philosophy: The Case of Jiankangma (China's Digital Health Code)
Tom Xiaowei Wang (Renmin University of China, China) and Pak-Hang Wong (Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong)
Chapter 13. Behaviour Change, Technology, and the Regulation of the Poor: A Case Study of the 'Water Wars' in South Africa
Brendon R. Barnes (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)
Index
About the Contributors
Product details

Published | 02 Oct 2025 |
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Format | Ebook (PDF) |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 276 |
ISBN | 9798765155424 |
Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
Illustrations | 3 bw illus |
Series | Philosophy, Technology and Society |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors
Reviews
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The ethics of developing and using scientific understanding to influence human behaviour is something every researcher, practitioner and user of behavioural science must have at the forefront of our minds. This excellent book takes readers expertly through discussions on the key issues that arise, including respect for autonomy, privacy, transparency and responsibility.
-Susan Michie, Director of UCL Centre for Behaviour Change and Co-Director of Behavioural Research UK, and Robert West, Professor Emeritus of Health Psychology, University College London, UK
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In a time when digital technologies are pervasively and effectively shaping behaviour, we need to not only critically discuss how they impact individual freedom, but also address broader societal and political issues. The Ethics of Behaviour Change spans this range and helps us to navigate issues such as autonomy and privacy but also justice and the interaction with cultural values and norms, thus challenging Western-centric approaches.
Mark Coeckelbergh, Professor of Philosophy of Media and Technology and former President of the Society for Philosophy and Technology, University of Vienna, Austria