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RECENT SOLUTIONS

Many social psychological interventions are easy and inexpensive to implement, and yet can transform people’s behavior. The SPARQ Solutions Catalog helps practitioners learn about these interventions so that they can apply them in their own work. Search the catalog for solutions to problems in:

Education Health Law & Politics Peace & Conflict Environment Parenting Relationships

Use the filters to search the catalog.

Plan To Succeed

Problem

Many people fail to reach their goals. 

Solution

To turn your ambitions into reality, make concrete and specific plans.

To Work Better, Rethink Stress

Problem

People stress out about stress. 

Solution

Thinking about the benefits of stress can improve your response to stress... 

Health
Appraisal / Attribution

Use Good Feelings To Improve Hygiene

Problem

Diarrhea is the second leading cause of children’s death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

Solution

Changing people’s feelings about washing their hands with soap improves hygiene, which in turn reduces diarrhea...

Health
Belonging / Support
Conformity / Obedience
Social Learning

Knowing Peers’ Real Attitudes Helps Students Drink Less

Problem

The leading causes of death for adolescents in the United States are alcohol use and alcohol-related events.

Solution

Showing students that many of their peers are uncomfortable with alcohol reduces drinking...

Health
Conformity / Obedience

Use Smaller Plates for a Smaller Waist

Problem

Obesity causes 300,000 deaths per year in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. 

Solution

When people use smaller dinnerware (plates, bowls, cutlery, etc.), they eat less...

Health
Appraisal / Attribution

Emoticons Reduce Energy Use

Problem

Using too much energy hurts the environment.

Solution

Including smiley and frowny face emoticons in people’s energy bills can lead entire neighborhoods to use less energy...

Environment
Conformity / Obedience

Affirm the Self To Promote Health

Problem

People’s desire to see themselves in the best light prevents them from accurately perceiving risks to their health. 

Solution

Reassuring people that they are good helps them accept negative information about their health...  

Health
Self-Affirmation / -Threat / -Relevance

Extending a Procedure Can Make it Less Painful

Problem

Colonoscopies can prevent colon cancer, yet the painfulness of the procedure deters patients from screening.

Solution

Prolonging the painless final moments of a colonoscopy leads patients to recall the entire procedure as less painful, which in turn increases their willingness to undergo more screenings in the future...

Health
Appraisal / Attribution

"Opt Out" Policies Increase Organ Donation

Problem

According to the American Transplant Foundation, 18 people die every day in the United States for want of an organ transplant, and some 122,344 people are waiting for a donated organ.

Solution

Changing U.S. policies so that people’s organs are automatically donated when they die—rather than requiring people to “opt in” to donating their organs while they are still alive—may lead to more organ donations and more lives saved...

Health
Appraisal / Attribution

Belief in Change Reduces Bullying

Problem

Rejection by peers leads teens to act aggressively and feel down.

Solution

Teaching teens that everyone has the capacity to change decreases aggression and symptoms of depression following peer exclusion. If people can change, so too can social labels like “bully” and “loser"...

Education
Peace & Conflict
Appraisal / Attribution
Belonging / Support

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