Models of behavioral change and adaptation

This chapter explains and summarizes models of behavioral change and adaptation, which have received less application in the life choice analysis associated with urban policy. Related to various life choices, life trajectory events are major decisions with a relatively long-lasting impact, such as demographic events, job change and purchase of major resources such as a house and a car. These life trajectory events may co-vary over time and lead to dynamic changes in activity-travel repertoires. Such decision problems have hitherto been predominantly modeled in urban and transportation science using classic discrete choice models. However, because such decisions differ from daily choices, other modeling approaches may be more beneficial. The authors present discrete choice models with lifetime utility and social dynamics, attitudinal models, technology acceptance model, norm activation model, and value belief norm theory for modeling lifecycle decisions and/or lifecycle driven behavioral change.