Social Psychology: Understanding Systems and Behavior 

In today's uncertain world, we need innovative tools to address novel challenges. This course introduces a systems approach to understanding and influencing human action, enabling you to more effectively navigate risks and seize opportunities in contexts, where people play a crucial role.

This course is ideal for professionals aiming to influence human behavior in dynamic settings using systems thinking and behavioral insights like nudge theory. It’s perfect for those collaborating across diverse groups to drive sustainable change. However, it’s less suited for those focused on non-applied research, complex systems science theory, or working in stable environments with minimal human behavior impact.

This course speaks to a general audience (No prior knowledge of social psychology, behavior change, or complexity is required).

Course Dates: January 29 - February 26 2025
Start: 9:45 AM EST
End: 12:15 PM EST

Early Bird Pricing Deadline: January 8, 2025

Scholarship Application Window: December 20-27 2024

Your Instructor

Matti TJ Heino

Matti TJ Heino is a social psychologist studying human behaviour change processes in complex systems, motivating interaction, and societal crisis resilience. In addition to research, he’s also worked with practical applications of behavioral science in organizations as well as public policy, on both national and local levels.

Registration

Enrolling in this course grants you access to five interactive sessions and a peer network for collaborative learning. Each immersive two-hour session combines in-depth lectures on key topics, such as behavior change science, complex systems science, and sense-making, with hands-on exercises designed to deepen your understanding of human action within interconnected systems.


Early Bird prices are as follows:

Corporate/Government/NGO: $499
Individual: $459
Student/Academic: $409*
*Must use college or university email address to receive this rate


Questions? Contact us at programs@necsi.edu.

Course Contents

Abstract

Fifty years ago, fewer interdependencies and slower change allowed leaders to make informed decisions from the top of hierarchies. Today, the pace of change, driven by factors like the internet, social media, climate change, and pandemics, demands a new approach.

This course equips professionals to navigate our uncertain and interconnected world by integrating behavior change science, complex systems science, and sense-making. You'll explore frameworks and tools to design resilient, adaptable interventions, detect early signals, harness collective intelligence, and collaborate effectively across diverse stakeholders.

Through a blend of theoretical insights, practical tools, and interactive discussions, you’ll learn to understand human behavior within complex systems, ask better questions, and drive meaningful change. Join a community of change-makers to sharpen your analytical lens, broaden your skill set, and thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Here’s What You’ll Learn

    • Explore the intersection of behavior change, complex systems, and sense-making

    • Uncover common misunderstandings in behavior change research and practice

    • Learn collaborative techniques to surface hidden assumptions and blind spots in planning

    • Discover the hidden landscape of attractors and tipping points

    • Understand the implications of non-linear change for resilience and antifragility

    • Identify the three core factors shaping behaviors in complex adaptive systems

    • Examine how to nurture autonomy, competence and relatedness to catalyze self-organized change 

    • Match decision making approaches to ordered and unordered contexts

    • Develop skills in strategic planning appropriate for shifting landscapes

    • A systematic process for developing behavior change projects

    • Learn to see the common ways interventions fail

    • Improve buy-in and communication of change initiatives, by explicating their mechanisms

    • Tap into the wisdom of crowds through participatory sense making techniques

    • Gather insights from micro-narratives and weak signal detection to detect emerging patterns

    • Establish structures for ongoing sense-making to enable continuous learning and adaptation