Behavioural Change with Dr. Matt Cybulsky from Ionia

VFH Episode #9

In this episode, Teri welcomes Dr. Matt Cybulsky, behavioural economist, and founder and chief consultant of Ionia Behavioral Insights. We talk about behavioural changes and voice first technology, the concept of story-telling in motivating change, and even the role of pets and vets in supporting behavioural changes.

Matt Cybulsky is a psychologist and behavioural economist, and he has studied persuasion and influence extensively. He has a PhD is behavioural economics. He now offers his expertise to organizations to help guide behavioural changes through technology and innovation, particularly at the intersection of voice first technology and healthcare. Matt is a sought-after speaker regarding behavioural changes, insights, and healthcare.

Key points from Dr. Matt Cybulsky

The “terror management theory” (i.e. if you do this, you will die) only works for about 24 hours.
People respond more effectively to internal motivation.
There is not just one way forward in behavioural modification; there are multiple ways and layers of intervention that we can add to help patients make positive changes and sustain these changes.
Voice first technology can connect to people all the time; this creates a system around a patient that allows him/her to be in constant “contact” with a healthcare provider, which ultimately increases connectivity and removes the distance.
To truly influence change, we need to create a linear narrative where patients see themselves inside a story as a player in a world that is relevant to them.
Integrating someone emotionally into a story optimizes learning and retention, accelerates healing, and improves emotional stability.
This means that patients interacting with relevant stories can have improved outcomes and positive changes.
The idea that one can create an engaging narrative through a smart speaker/voice assistant means that patients are less likely to ignore it and they will interact with it.
Voice first tech allows for something more immersive – this is the differentiator that voice tech can bring that can get patients over the hump from will to internal motivation.
Voice tech can get us to a place where more people can take of themselves in the home.

Dr. Matt Cybulsky’s work with Veterinarians – an interesting case study

Dr. Cybulsky has been working with a veterinary company, exploring how voice technology will impact veterinary care.
What does it mean to be a connected pet owner?
Vets are a proxy to human health care by taking care of pets, which in turn are stabilizers for communities and families (e.g. consider care/prescription animals).
Pets and voice tech each provide different forms of monitoring patients in the home; voice tech can provide reminders to pet owners for administration of drugs, feeding, etc., in turn improving the health of the owners.
Ultimately, voice first tech can help veterinarians reach more people and pets.