Successful Activism: Avoiding Common Pitfalls Presented to Logan - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Successful Activism: Avoiding Common Pitfalls Presented to Logan Rotary, 2013

Activism is the rent I pay for living on the planet. -Alice Walker

Your Interests? • Environment? • Social Justice? • Civic Causes? • Public Health? • Political Action? • Social Change? • Individuals, groups, national level?

Activists Are Bicycling Everywhere! Haiti Humane Society Crossroads Project (Climate Change)

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead But…

“ Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can also waste a great deal of time, money, and effort, using common sense .”

Biggest Pitfall: Common sense and good intentions… are not enough to succeed!

• Founded 1983 • 80% School Districts • 55 Countries • 36 Million Students

But…“DARE is not effective” according to: • U.S. General Accounting Office • U.S. Surgeon General • National Academy of Sciences • U.S. Department of Education www.alcoholfacts.org

Classic Activist Pattern 1. Resolve to fix an important problem. 2. Pick a common sense method. 3. Implement it.

4. Get weak or no results. 5. Become discouraged 6. Give up. This is “Activist Burnout”

Activists (You) Deserve Success! Objectives: 1. Identify common activist pitfalls. 2. Tools to prevent/remedy pitfalls. 3. Levels: National, Individual, Groups

National Activism

1951-1963 AEC detonated 126 nuclear bombs at the Nevada Test Site. St. George.

AEC assured: “The tests are conducted with adequate assurances for public safety."

Mom: “With each explosion, the front doors of the high school banged open and closed. Then a few hours later the dirty red cloud would blow over us.”

“Dirty Harry” Detonated 5/17/1953 32 Kilotons

AEC: “Keep kids in from recess today.” Sixteen days: >1000X allowable radiation.

Arthur Bruhn, Dixie College President.

Cancer

Arthur Bruhn dies of leukemia. Daughter testifies to Congress: “We were conned.” Arthur Bruhn dies of radiation-related cancer.

Elmer Picket Testified before congress. “We were totally misled…” Lost 10 family member to leukemia.

Pitfall: Going Solo Solution: Cooperate

The “ Downwinders ” came together. They demanded accountability.

Pitfall : Insufficient Evidence . Solution: Investigate Scientifically credible evidence

1980: Downwinders Start Their Study Volunteers gather thousands of health records from affected counties.

Cancer rates were significantly elevated and closely related to exposure levels.

Pitfall : No Legal Clout

Solution: Litigate Court Finding : “A species of fraud has been committed upon the court by government lawyers and federal employees acting in intentionally false or deceptive ways" -historytogo.utah.gov/utah

Pitfall: No Legislative Clout

Solution: Legislate

1990: Success! Congress Passed RECA (Radiation Exposure Compensation Act) RECA provides up to $100,000 in compensation for radiation-related cancers that meet geographic and time-frame criteria.

1.8 Billion Dollars For verified Downwinder cancer claims. http://www.justice.gov/civil/common/reca.html

Activist Lessons • Activism can make a big impact! • For large scale projects, prepared to: – Cooperate. – Investigate. – Litigate. – Legislate.

But I don’t have 30 years, or hundreds of volunteers!

How to Influence Individuals

Pitfall: Direct Persuasion

1. Scare 2. Instruct Pitfall: 3. Warn 4. Reason The Dirty Dozen 5. Argue 6. Suggest 7. Blame Direct Persuasion is 8. Persuade Usually Ineffective 9. Lecture 10. Disapprove 11. Debate 12. Guilt-Trip

Direct Persuasion Creates Direct Resistance 44

Pitfall: Fear Based Messages

Fear Backfires! 1. Raising fear leads to “fear control” (denial or avoidance). 2. Solution: Increase perceived efficacy : 1. An effective response is available. 2. They are capable of doing it. 3. This leads to “danger control” (increases target behaviors). 3. Keep PE > Fear

“The Crying Indian Ad” Launched on Earth Day, 1971 Ran for 20 years, Earned two Clio Awards, Named to the Top 100 Ads of All Time.

Pitfall: Spotlighting Bad Behavior Can Normalize Rather than Change IT “Creators of the ad seem to have been correct in their decision to show a dismaying instance of someone (the passing motorist) actively littering the environment; but they may have been mistaken in their decision to use an already-littered environment…” -Bob Cialdini, Arizona State *Solution: Depict desired behavior as normative .

Pitfall: “Attitude Drives Behavior” • 500 people interviewed. • 94% acknowledged that people should pick up litter. • 2% picked up litter planted by the researcher.

Pitfall: Education = Change Study by Scott Geller: • 40 participants, three-hour workshop (energy savings) • Exit survey showed significant attitude change. • Follow-up check showed no behavior change.

People change most when change serves THEIR values. Achieve your goals by serving THEIR values.

Change Requires More Listening than Talking “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Three Parts of Change Talk DEER DARN CAT DARN OARS

DEER 1. Develop Discrepancy: between what they want and what they are doing. 2. Express Empathy : show understanding. 3. Encourage Change Talk (DARNCAP) 4. Roll with Resistance (acknowledge/validate).

Encourage Change Talk with DARN DARN CAT 1. Desire for change (wants, wishes, likes). 2. Ability to change (can, could, able). 3. Reasons to change (their specific reasons) 4. Need for change (why it’s important to them). 5. Commitment (intentions, agreements) 6. Activation (readiness, willingness). 7. Taking Steps (specific actions taken).

OARS Use: O pen-Ended Questions- to explore pros/cons. A ffirmations (of positive actions). R eflective Listening- validate both pros/cons. S ummarize- pros/cons and action plans.

Motivational Interviewing Books

What about influencing groups? – Voters – Churches – Communities – Demographics (youth, farmers, retirees, etc.) – Organizations, Industries, Businesses

Doug McKenzie-Mohr, Ph.D. Environmental Psychologist Community-Based Social Marketing

Community-Based Social Marketing CBSM Provides tools to identify and implement the best way to influence groups.

Five Steps of CBSM 1. Select good target behaviors . 2. Identify barriers and benefits . 3. Match methods to barriers and benefits. 4. Pilot test and refine methods. 5. Implement , evaluate and report your results.

1. Pick Appropriate Target Behaviors • Pick behaviors with greatest combined: – Impact – Probability – Penetration • Do a Target Analysis

Target Analysis for Reducing CO2 Emissions in Queensland, Australia Behavior Impact Prob- Penet- Weight (KG per ability ration (Impact) Household (0-4) (%) per year) Purchase 8700 2.1 .85 15,899 Green Power Install High 650 2.5 .35 569 Efficiency Showerheads Wash Clothes 450 3.1 .63 876 In Cold Water http://www.cbsm.com

2. Identify Barriers and Benefits (of the target behaviors) • Beware your personal theories. • Review others’ research. • Conduct focus groups. • Conduct surveys.

3. Match Methods (to Barriers & Benefits) Target behavior : Recycle Plastic Bottles – Alternative behavior: Trash Them.

Four Options: 1. Decrease barriers to target 1. Clearly identify recyclables. 2. Increase benefits of target 1. Offer cash back for each one recycled. 3. Increase barriers to alternative 1. Refundable tax for each. 4. Decrease benefits of alternative 1. Have kids confront parent noncompliance.

Show How The Behavior: • Is superior to status quo. • Reduces risk of financial loss. • Increases social approval. • Is doable. • Supports their values. • Can be tried out before committing. • Will be visible to others.

Example: Make the Target Behavior Convenient Bixi Bikes in Montreal (Which picture is best for promotion?)

4. Pilot Test! • Implement on a small scale. • Discover and remove problems. • Check cost-effectiveness.

5. Implement Your Program. Program Boosts Ridership 36% Then evaluate and report it.

Celebrate Your Success!

Overview • Large Scale Projects 1. Cooperate 2. Investigate 3. Litigate 4. Legislate • Individuals: Motivational Interviewing DEER, DARN CAT, OARS • Intermediate Groups: CBSM 1. Target Behavior, 2. Identify Barriers and Benefits, 3. Match Methods, 4. Pilot Test, 5. Implement, Evaluate, and Report.

David Christian, Ph.D., P.C. Web: MyDocDave.com Email: dchristian999@gmail.com