Behavior Ownership
Why it matters?
Behavior ownership refers to the psychological state in which individuals perceive outcomes as directly resulting from their own actions.
| Mechanism | Participant Experience | Behavioral Result |
|---|
| Physical Labor | Planting & compost turning | Increased value perception of food |
| Time Investment | Waiting for crops | Reduced impulsive eating |
| Skill Acquisition | Growing & cooking | Increased self-efficacy |
| Visible Outcomes | Harvest yields | Reinforcement of healthy choices |
When participants grow food themselves, dietary decisions shift from externally prescribed (“I should eat healthier”) to internally motivated (“I grew this”).
