Sean Young
Sean Young is a behavioural psychologist and award-winning author of the #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling book “Stick with It”. He is also the Executive Director of the University of California Institute for Prediction Technology.
Sean Young's videos
What Sean Young's clients say
Available for
Languages:
- English
Sean Young's 2025 biography
Sean Young’s background
As a speaker, he engages with his audience offering insights to show that it’s possible to overcome problem behaviour forever.
He is the Executive Director of the University of California Institute for Prediction Technology, the UCLA Center for Digital Behavior, a Medical School Professor with the UCLA Department of Family Medicine, and the #1 Wall Street Journal and National Best-Selling author of “Stick With It”.
He has a PhD in Psychology and a Master’s degree in health Services Research from Stanford University.
He has worked in technology and user behaviour and human factors at NASA Ames Research Center and Cisco Systems, and taught at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
He has consulted with many organisations and start-ups. Sean is an internationally-recognised speaker, having presented at forums including the European Parliament, mHealth Conference, World Congress, as well as corporations, academic institutions and organisations.
Sean studies digital behaviour and prediction technology, or how and why people use social media, mobile apps, and wearable devices. He helps people and businesses apply this knowledge to predict what people will do in the future and to change what they will do in the future.
His blog called BlackBoxPhd.com interviews experts in areas related to behaviour to teach people how to improve their lives and work.
Sean Young's 2025 talks & topics
No More Missed Deadlines: Ending Procrastination Forever
Should I do my homework now or wait until tomorrow? Should I answer this email now or address it another time? Should I finish writing this sentence or… We all know the experience and negative effects of procrastination. Conventional wisdom teaches us that people who procrastinate are lazy and unmotivated. That not only makes people feel bad and makes the problem worse, but it’s not the correct science.
Behavior change science paints a brighter picture, that changing and preventing procrastination is possible. This course will teach the science behind lasting change and how it can be applied to prevent procrastination. It will teach students about the 3 types of behaviours (A, B, and C behaviours) and the set of 7 tools or forces that can be used to change these behaviours, with a focus on how to prevent procrastination and get work done more efficiently.
By the end of this talk, audience members will be able to identify their behaviours, create plans for changing them, and develop plans that can be adapted for others as well.
Letting Go of Smartphone Addiction Forever
Although technological devices, such as smartphones, have made our lives more productive and efficient, they’ve also led to detrimental effects on mental health, including smartphone addiction. Conventional wisdom has taught us that we’re doomed to become dependent on and addicted to our devices in the future, but behaviour change science paints a brighter picture, that change is possible. It is possible to live a life where we use technologies without being addicted to them.
This course will teach the science behind lasting change and how it can be applied to manage unhealthy smartphone behaviours so that people can use technologies safely and healthily. It will teach about the 3 types of behaviours (A, B, and C behaviours) and the set of 7 tools or forces that can be used to change these behaviours, with a focus on how to create long-term changes in how we use technologies.
By the end of this talk, audience members will be able to identify their behaviours, create plans for changing them, and develop plans that can be adapted for others as well.
Keeping our Promises to Ourselves: A Lasting Approach to New Years' Resolutions
People love making New Years’ resolutions for change. But how long do they change usually stick? Not long. Gyms are packed for the first 2 weeks of the new year then they’re empty. People change their nutrition routines for a week then go back to eating junk food. How can we get ourselves and others to stick to healthier lifestyles? Conventional wisdom teaches us that people who can’t keep healthy are lazy and unmotivated. That not only makes people feel bad and makes the problem worse, but it’s not the correct science. Behavior change science paints a brighter picture, that changing and sticking to a healthy routine is possible.
This course will teach the science behind lasting change and how it can be applied to health behaviour change. It will teach students about the 3 types of behaviours (A, B, and C behaviours) and the set of 7 tools or forces that can be used to change these behaviours, with a focus on how to make health behaviour change like exercise, nutrition, and quitting smoking stick.
By the end of this talk, audience members will be able to identify their behaviours, create plans for changing them, and develop plans that can be adapted for others as well.