Nudges, Nudging, and Self-Guidance Under the Influence

Nudging works through dispositions to decide with specific heuristics, and has three component parts. A nudge is a feature of an environment that enables such disposition; person nudged when disposition triggered; performs action manifests in action. This analysis clarifies autonomy-based worry about nudging as used public policy or for private profit: person’s ability reason well undermined she nudged. Reasoning self-guidance, which aspect autonomy so something there promote, preserve, respect. However, can nudged: Many these heuristics are good rules with, be flexible respect them takes better way reason. Along the way, this paper uncovers several design specifications responsible nudging, discusses open empirical questions. nudging’s being compatible reasoning crystallizes distinct manipulation: designers rely on people guiding themselves toward designers’ own ends. Manipulation sort exploits one (namely, self-guidance) undermine other respects.