Through a neuropsychological perspective this thesis seeks to understand how insights into neural responses and cognitive information processing can contribute to the development of behavior changing support systems, specifically within the area of persuasive technology. The aim is to expand the theoretical foundation of persuasive technology and further, on behalf of this theoretical expansion, to further develop the Persuasive Systems Design Model designed by Oinas-Kukkonen & Harjumaa (2009). The research led exploration of three progressive literature studies leads to the identification of several neuropsychological insights into the diversity of premises for human information processing. The knowledge gained from the literature studies identifies the fact that the effect of persuasive information, especially persuasive features such as praise and rewards, is modulated by several neuropsychological processes such as emotion processing, cognitive processing, and finally the user’s individual neuropsychological premises. E.g., being diagnosed with ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder alters the perception, emotional -and cognitive processing and thus affects behavior responses by enhancing impulsivity and inhibiting reflexivity. Thus, it is a main argument of the thesis that user’s phenomenological experience of persuasive stimuli differentiates across neuropsychological premises and differing cognitive styles, implicating a gap in which the combination of information studies, persuasive technology and neuropsychology together, can further enhance the effect of persuasive information.
Methodologically the thesis is a further development of the article “A Neuropsychological Perspective on Praise and Rewards in Persuasive Technology”, in which the initial crossing of these field was explored. Since the crossing of these scientific fields is a new domain, the current thesis springboards from a explorative and research led mindset within Sanders’ & Stappers’ Design Landscape. This methodological position is a result of prioritizing the establishment of a scientifically qualified and theoretical foundation, of the cross field in which the scientific contribution of this thesis is sought to contribute. Thus, it is prioritized to understand what exactly is important to investigate empirically, before doing actual empirical studies.
By establishing a theoretical foundation on behalf of these new insights, the PSD-Model is methodologically further developed, thus including an overview of possible different neuropsychological styles, all affecting the impact of persuasive information.
The thesis thus indicates that it is possible to strategically design more effective persuasive information systems by usage of these neuropsychological insights.