WISH: What If Scenarios for Healthy Norms
The simulation tool WISH – created based on scientific research using an Amsterdam dataset – simulates the impact of different types of interventions on weight at the group level: interventions that focus on individual behaviour change versus interventions that focus on systems change. The simulations show that is more effective to shift social norms and transform the system than to, while the environment remains unchanged, focus on individual behaviour change. In this tool, the concept of a ‘social norm’ serves as a metaphor for a healthy environment that makes healthy behaviour the norm. The tool builds on a model published in Obesity Reviews (Crielaard et al. 2020) and BMJ Open (Crielaard et al. 2025) and translates its findings into an interactive format.
Objective
The WISH tool is designed in such a way that policymakers can use the scientifically grounded, quantitative scenarios to strengthen their narrative about systems thinking, for example in conversations about policy choices or funding.
Complexity Science
This tool brings a causal loop diagram and the Action Scales Model (Nobles et al. 2022) to life through simulation. Where systems thinking in policy often relies on static ‘on paper’ models and frameworks, WISH makes it possible to interactively explore intervening on different levels of the system.
Co-creation
WISH can be used by systems thinkers in conversations with other stakeholders to make the motivation and purpose of systems thinking visible at a glance.
Intervention
The simulations show that is more effective to shift social norms and transform the system than to, while the environment remains unchanged, focus on individual behaviour change. This naturally leads to an important follow-up question: what actions are needed to create an environment that makes healthy behaviour the easy and normal choice?
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