Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Persuasive Backfiring: When Behavior Change Interventions Trigger Unintended Negative Outcomes

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Book cover Persuasive Technology (PERSUASIVE 2016)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 9638))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Numerous scholars study how to design evidence-based interventions that can improve the lives of individuals, in a way that also brings social benefits. However, within the behavioral sciences in general, and the persuasive technology field specifically, scholars rarely focus-on, or report the negative outcomes of behavior change interventions, and possibly fewer report a special type of negative outcome, a backfire. This paper has been authored to start a wider discussion within the scientific community on intervention backfiring. Within this paper, we provide tools to aid academics in the study of persuasive backfiring, present a taxonomy of backfiring causes, and provide an analytical framework containing the intention-outcome and likelihood-severity matrices. To increase knowledge on how to mitigate the negative impact of intervention backfiring, we discuss research and practitioner implications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Andreasen, A.: Social marketing in the 21st century. Sage Publications Inc, Thousand Oaks (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bartholomew, L.K., Parcel, G.S., Kok, G., Gottlieb, N.H.: Planning health promotion programs: an intervention mapping approach. Wiley, San Francisco (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Beer, M., Eisenstat, R.A., Spector, B.: Why change programs don’t produce change (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Beshears, J., Choi, J.J., Laibson, D., Madrian, B.C., Milkman, K.L.: The effect of providing peer information on retirement savings decisions. J. Finan. 70(3), 1161–1201 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chambers, A.: Africa’s not-so-magic roundabout (2009). http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/nov/24/africa-charity-water-pumps-roundabouts

  6. Charmaz, K.: Constructing grounded theory. Sage, Thousand Oaks (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chatterjee, S., Price, A.: Healthy living with persuasive technologies: Framework, is- sues, and challenges. J. Am. Med. Inf. Assoc. 16(2), 171–178 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Crano, W.D., Burgoon, M., Oskamp, S. (eds.): Mass media and drug prevention: Classic and contemporary theories and research. Psychology Press, Mahwah (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Cugelman, B., Thelwall, M., Dawes, P.: Online interventions for social marketing health behavior change campaigns: A meta-analysis of psychological architectures and adherence factors. J. Med. Internet Res. 13(1), e17 (2011). http://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.1367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cunningham, J.A., Wild, T.C., Cordingley, J., Van Mierlo, T., Humphreys, K.: A randomized controlled trial of an internet-based intervention for alcohol abusers. Addiction 104(12), 2023–2032 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Curtis, P.: Anti-bullying wristband scheme backfires (2004). http://www.theguardian.com/education/2004/dec/08/schools.uk2

  12. Davidson, K., Goldstein, M., Kaplan, R., Kaufmann, P., Knatterud, G., Orleans, C., Whitlock, E.: Evidence-based behavioral medicine: What is it and how do we achieve it? Ann. Behav. Med. 26(3), 161–171 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Embry, D., Biglan, A.: Evidence-based kernels: Fundamental units of behavioral influence. Clin. Child Family Psychol. Rev. 11(3), 75 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Farvolden, P., Denisoff, E., Selby, P., Bagby, R.M., Rudy, L.: Usage and longitudinal effectiveness of a Web-based self-help cognitive behavioral therapy program for panic disorder. J. Med. Int. Res. 7(1), e7 (2005). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1550639/

    Google Scholar 

  15. Fogg, B.J.: Persuasive Technology: Using Computers to Change What We Think and Do. Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Fraser, J.: Anti-smoking ads cleverly boost smoking among teens (2006). http://www.naturalnews.com/020996.html

  17. Glaser, B.G., Strauss, A.L.: The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Transaction Publishers, New Jersey (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Graham, J.: Father leaves nine children at Nebraska hospital (2008). http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/triage/2008/09/father-leaves-n.html

  19. Hastings, G.: Social marketing: why should the devil have all the best tunes?. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Healey, B., Zimmerman, R.S.: The new world of health promotion: New program development, implementation, and evaluation. Jones & Bartlett Learning, Sudbury (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hinkley, K.: 5 Ridiculous Anti-Drugs Posters (2014). http://www.talkingdrugs.org/5-anti-drugs-campaigns

  22. Holpuch, A.: Truvada has been called the ‘miracle’ HIV pill–so why is uptake so slow (2014). http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/18/truvada-mircle-pill-prevent-hiv-controversy

  23. Kietzmann, J.H., Hermkens, K., McCarthy, I.P., Silvestre, B.S.: Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media. Bus. Horiz. 54(3), 241–251 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kirkland, A., Metzl, J.M. (eds.): Against health: How health became the new morality. NYU Press, New York (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kotler, P., Roberto, N., Lee, N.: Social marketing: improving the quality of life, 2nd edn. Sage Publications Inc, California (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Lenert, L., Munoz, R., Perez, J., Bansod, A.: Automated e-mail messaging as a tool for improving quit rates in an internet smoking cessation intervention. J. Am. Med. Inf. Assoc. 11(4), 235–240 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Linehan, C., Harrer, S., Kirman, B., Lawson, S., Carter, M.: Games against health: a player-centered design philosophy. In: Proceedings of the 33rd Annual ACM Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 589–600. ACM (2015, April)

    Google Scholar 

  28. London, L.: Guiltless Girls: Unpacking 100-calorie Snacks (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Marshall, A., Leslie, E., Bauman, A., Marcus, B., Owen, N.: Print versus website physical activity programs A randomized trial. Am. J. Prev. Med. 25(2), 88–94 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Meijers, M.H., Verlegh, P.W., Noordewier, M.K., Smit, E.G.: The dark side of donating: how donating may license environmentally unfriendly behavior. Social Influence, 1–14 (2015). doi:10.1080/15534510.2015.1092468

    Google Scholar 

  31. Michie, S., Abraham, C.: Interventions to change health behaviours: evidence-based or evidence-inspired? Psychol. Health 19(1), 29–49 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. O’Keefe, D.: Persuasion: Theory and Research. Sage Publications Inc, London (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Prochaska, J.O., Velicer, W.F.: The transtheoretical model of health behavior change. Am. J. Health Promot. 12(1), 38–48 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Reaves, J.: Just Say No to DARE (2001). http://content.time.com/time/education/article/0,8599,99564,00.html

  35. Schultz, P.W., Nolan, J.M., Cialdini, R.B., Goldstein, N.J., Griskevicius, V.: The constructive, destructive, and reconstructive power of social norms. Psychol. Sci. 18(5), 429–434 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Stibe, A.: Towards a framework for socially influencing systems: Meta-analysis of four PLS-SEM based studies. In: MacTavish, T., Basapur, S. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2015. LNCS, vol. 9072, pp. 172–183. Springer, Heidelberg (2015)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  37. Stibe, A.: Advancing typology of computer-supported influence: moderation effects in socially influencing systems. In: MacTavish, T., Basapur, S. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2015. LNCS, vol. 9072, pp. 253–264. Springer, Heidelberg (2015)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  38. Webb, T., Joseph, J., Yardley, L., Michie, S.: Using the internet to promote health behavior change: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of theoretical basis, use of behavior change techniques, and mode of delivery on efficacy. J. Med. Internet Res. 12(1), e4 (2010). http://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.1376

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Agnis Stibe

  2. Statistical Cybermetrics Research Group, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK

    Brian Cugelman

  3. AlterSpark, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Brian Cugelman

Authors
  1. Agnis Stibe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brian Cugelman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Agnis Stibe .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Alexander Meschtscherjakov

  2. Philips Research, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Boris De Ruyter

  3. University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Verena Fuchsberger

  4. University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Martin Murer

  5. University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Manfred Tscheligi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Stibe, A., Cugelman, B. (2016). Persuasive Backfiring: When Behavior Change Interventions Trigger Unintended Negative Outcomes. In: Meschtscherjakov, A., De Ruyter, B., Fuchsberger, V., Murer, M., Tscheligi, M. (eds) Persuasive Technology. PERSUASIVE 2016. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9638. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31510-2_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31510-2_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31509-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31510-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation