What's one of the biggest advantages of using a nudge to solve a problem?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Dissecting the question about one of the biggest advantages of using a nudge to solve a problem invites a look at what nudges are supposed to do and what they are not.
Option 1: 'Passing laws to change behavior is time consuming and difficult. So nudges are better than laws.' While it is true that laws can be time-consuming to implement and that nudges can be less intrusive, this option asserts a broad superiority of nudges in all cases. That overstates the case, since legal changes may be warranted or necessary for certain issues, and nudges are not inherently better in every context. This makes the claim more about a practical comparison than about a fundamental advantage of nudges themselves.
Option 2: 'People are rarely capable of making correct choices on their own, and nudges are one of the only sure-fire ways to make sure that people make the correct choice.' This statement overgeneralizes human decision-making and falsely claims nudges are a guaranteed method to steer people to correct choices. In reality, nudges aim to improve decision quality in many contexts but do not guarantee optimal or universally correct outcomes, and they do not remove all freedom of choice. The certainty implied here is problematic.
Option 3: 'People feel more satisfied by their own behavior after being nudged than if they had exhibited the same behavior without being nudged.' This speaks to subjective satisfaction, which can vary and is not a defining or universal advantage of nudges. Some individuals may feel manipulated or indifferent, so this claim is not a robust or generalizable advantage.
Option 4: 'People are not forced to comply with a nudge even if it may be in their best interest.' This captures a core feature of nudging: it preserves individual autonomy by influencing choices in a non-coercive way, while still leaving the ultimate decision up to the person. It highlights the non-coercive aspect, which is often touted as a key advantage of nudges.
Option 5: 'Nudges are widely agreed upon as an ethical way to influence human behavior.' This asserts universal ethical consensus, which is not accurate. Debates about the ethics of nudging exist, and opinions vary across contexts and individuals, so this claim is not reliable as a blanket advantage.
In summary, the strongest and most defensible advantage presented here is the preservation of choice and autonomy, as described in Option 4. The other options either overstate the guarantees of nudges, rely on subjective judgments, or misrepresent the ethical landscape surrounding nudging.

What's one of the biggest advantages of using a nudge to solve a problem?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Which of the following is not an example of a behavioural nudge?

From the list below, what is the best example of a behavioural nudge?

From the list below, what is the best example of a behavioural nudge?

Which of these is not a type of nudge

From the list below, what is the best example of a behavioural nudge?

From the list below, what is the best example of a behavioural nudge?

Which of the following is not an example of a behavioural nudge?

In a consumer society, many adults channel creativity into buying things

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler