TY - JOUR

T1 - A framework for mapping and comparing behavioural theories in models of social-ecological systems

AU - Schluter, Maja

AU - Baeza, Andres

AU - Dressler, Gunnar

AU - Frank, Karin

AU - Groeneveld, Juergen

AU - Jager, Wander

AU - Janssen, Marco A.

AU - McAllister, Ryan R. J.

AU - Mueller, Birgit

AU - Orach, Kirill

AU - Schwarz, Nina

AU - Wijermans, Nanda

PY - 2017/1

Y1 - 2017/1

N2 - Formal models are commonly used in natural resource management (NRM) to study human-environment interactions and inform policy making. In the majority of applications, human behaviour is represented by the rational actor model despite growing empirical evidence of its shortcomings in NRM contexts. While the importance of accounting for the complexity of human behaviour is increasingly recognized, its integration into formal models remains a major challenge. The challenges are multiple: i) there exist many theories scattered across the social sciences, ii) most theories cover only a certain aspect of decision-making, iii) they vary in their degree of formalization, iv) causal mechanisms are often not specified. We provide a framework- MoHuB (Modelling Human Behavior) - to facilitate a broader inclusion of theories on human decision-making in formal NRM models. It serves as a tool and common language to describe, compare and communicate alternative theories. In doing so, we not only enhance understanding of commonalities and differences between theories, but take a first step towards tackling the challenges mentioned above. This approach may enable modellers to find and formalize relevant theories, and be more explicit and inclusive about theories of human decision making in the analysis of social ecological systems. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

AB - Formal models are commonly used in natural resource management (NRM) to study human-environment interactions and inform policy making. In the majority of applications, human behaviour is represented by the rational actor model despite growing empirical evidence of its shortcomings in NRM contexts. While the importance of accounting for the complexity of human behaviour is increasingly recognized, its integration into formal models remains a major challenge. The challenges are multiple: i) there exist many theories scattered across the social sciences, ii) most theories cover only a certain aspect of decision-making, iii) they vary in their degree of formalization, iv) causal mechanisms are often not specified. We provide a framework- MoHuB (Modelling Human Behavior) - to facilitate a broader inclusion of theories on human decision-making in formal NRM models. It serves as a tool and common language to describe, compare and communicate alternative theories. In doing so, we not only enhance understanding of commonalities and differences between theories, but take a first step towards tackling the challenges mentioned above. This approach may enable modellers to find and formalize relevant theories, and be more explicit and inclusive about theories of human decision making in the analysis of social ecological systems. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

KW - Human decision-making

KW - Natural resource management

KW - Rational actor

KW - Bounded rationality

KW - Theory of planned behaviour

KW - Descriptive norm

KW - Habitual

KW - Reinforcement learning

KW - Prospect theory

KW - AGENT-BASED MODELS

KW - HOMO-ECONOMICUS

KW - ENVIRONMENTAL-POLICY

KW - HUMAN-MOTIVATION

KW - RATIONAL CHOICE

KW - HUMAN DECISIONS

KW - HUMAN ACTOR

KW - MANAGEMENT

KW - SUSTAINABILITY

KW - COOPERATION

U2 - 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.08.008

DO - 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.08.008

M3 - Article

VL - 131

SP - 21

EP - 35

JO - Ecological Economics

JF - Ecological Economics

SN - 0921-8009

ER -