Behavior Change Model

This model is derived from the book written by Nir Eyal named Hooked. The book can be found here Hooked 

The Habit loop has the nascent version as

Cue > Action > Reward

The modified version which becomes actionable is the following 

Trigger > Action > Variable reward > Investment

In this we try to see how the Behavior can be modified or manipulated. Behavior is said have the following three factors

• Motivation
• Ability
• Trigger

So to create an behavioral change we need to influence one or more of the above three.

B= MAT (Behavior = Motivation, Ability, Trigger)

If we delve deeper into this,

Motivation acts as the first pillar for a behavior change, we can either have some inherent motivation or the motivation is generated through some incentive. So, incentivization should be strong and long enough to make it a habit else the behavior might be short lived or just reactionary.

If motivation is completely missing the behavior change is temporary and once the motivation is gone the behavior might get reversed. Hence, motivation is the key to initiate any behavior modification.

Ability is the next factor, if there is a motivation to change the behavior but a person does not have the ability to practice the behavior is never altered. So, ability in terms of putting the behavior into practice is crucial for the change. 

If the ability is forced with some external factors like running 5 miles during to training or practice, it will be short-lived as a person without the actual strength might just discontinue after getting fatigued. In the long run the person will have to build the ability to be able to sustain the behavior of running 5 miles daily. The person without the ability with energy boosters, medicine and pain killers might do it for a week but then it cannot change the actual behavior of running daily, as all other activities will get affected and the person will have to do away with the behavior.

Trigger is the final factor, when the motivation and ability are adequate there needs to be some signs that will help user to initiate the behavior every time. Triggers can be automatic or planted to create the initiation of the behavior loop.

This is the easiest of the three factors but only when the trigger is used consistently over a period of time can manipulate the behavior to make it permanent.