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Programs

Behavioral Science & Policy Initiative

Research Program

Behavioral Science & Policy Initiative

The Schaeffer Institute’s Behavioral Science & Policy Initiative aims to understand how people think, talk and make decisions about key policy topics, including healthcare, food and climate change. Our insights help create effective messaging and interventions that better fit people’s needs.

What is Behavioral Science?

Behavioral Science is a growing interdisciplinary field that combines insights from psychology, economics, and other social sciences to understand how people perceive risks, how they process information about risks, and what motivates attitude and behavior change.

Behavioral Science and Policy Initiative Academic Council

Allison Agsten
Allison Agsten,
USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism
Joe Arvai
Joe Arvai,
USC Dornsife Wrigley Institute for Environment & Sustainability
Jason Doctor
Jason Doctor,
USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics
Kayla de la Haye
Kayla de la Haye,
USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research
Norbert Schwarz
Norbert Schwarz,
USC Dornsife Mind & Society Center
Gülden Ülkümen
Gülden Ülkümen,
USC Marshall School of Business Department of Marketing

Get Involved

Join the USC Behavioral Science Society

The USC Behavioral Science Society brings together students and post-docs from across the university who are interested in behavioral science, behavioral economics, behavioral decision making, psychology, and other related academic fields with applications to health, finances, sustainability, and security.

Behavioral Science Society

Events View All

The Behavioral Science and Policy Initiative hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including a regular seminar series.