The Foundations of Human Behavior Initiative (FHB) supports research that produces transformative insights about the psychological, social, economic, political, and biological mechanisms that influence human behavior. Our research translates social scientific discoveries into cost-effective, scalable interventions that improve human well-being around the world.
FHB catalyzes cross-fertilization and collaboration among the University’s discipline-based departments. Through FHB, Harvard faculty and students study a wide range of cognitive, social and behavioral phenomena – from decision-making, self-control, addiction, altruism, reciprocity, cooperation, herding, and violence, to productivity, innovation, and leadership. We apply these findings to develop and test interventions across the major realms of social endeavor, including health care, economic development, education, and governance.