Breaking the Code
Behavioral science is a cornerstone of modern marketing practice, but much of what passes itself off as behavioral science is just bs. Good social science gives us the insights and roadmap we need to change behavior, but bad social science just muddies the water and tarnishes the social sciences. As behavior change is a core objective of marketing, getting behavioral science right is crucial. Join us as two behavioral scientists sound off on what is, and isn't, good social science, from a variety of disciplines covering new topics every podcast.
Your hosts: Brad Davidson, PhD and Sonika Garcia, MPH - Medical Anthropology Strategists at Havas Health & You.
Breaking the Code
Defeating Cancer’s Hero Trope: Cancer Doesn’t Make Humans Super - It Makes Them More of Who They Already Are
A cancer diagnosis is a "moment of truth" that brings an undeniable shift to someone's identity. Faced with one's own mortality, a concerted effort may be required to overcome the dissonance between "who I was" and "who I am now". When communicating to patients diagnosed with cancer, we often attempt to address this new-found perspective by creating "hero" tropes or by relying on aspirational calls to action, invoking tropes that fail to clarify the practical struggle people with cancer face ("am I a hero? I don't feel like one...")
Brad and Gabe received a special request to discuss the dynamics of communication for patients with poor prognosis or late-stage cancers. They discuss the shame that may be present for lung cancer patients who were former smokers, the lack of attention paid to ovarian cancer as a women's health issue and the unnecessary pressure brought on by labeling someone with cancer as a "fighter".
If you have any questions, feedback, or just want to say hi, email us at medicalanthropology@havas.com
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