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Self-interest and pro-environmental behaviour

Author

Listed:
  • Laurel Evans

    (School of Psychology, Cardiff University
    School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington)

  • Gregory R. Maio

    (School of Psychology, Cardiff University)

  • Adam Corner

    (School of Psychology, Cardiff University)

  • Carl J. Hodgetts

    (School of Psychology, Cardiff University)

  • Sameera Ahmed

    (School of Psychology, Cardiff University)

  • Ulrike Hahn

    (School of Psychology, Cardiff University)

Abstract

Campaigns to promote pro-environmental behaviour usually emphasize self-interested reasons for engaging with a self-transcendent cause such as protecting the environment. However, psychological evidence suggests that this approach may fail to stimulate other, different, environmental behaviours. Research shows that communicating self-transcending motives for car-sharing increases recycling rates, whereas presenting self-interested reasons alone, or combined with self-transcending motives, does not.

Suggested Citation

  • Laurel Evans & Gregory R. Maio & Adam Corner & Carl J. Hodgetts & Sameera Ahmed & Ulrike Hahn, 2013. "Self-interest and pro-environmental behaviour," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(2), pages 122-125, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:3:y:2013:i:2:d:10.1038_nclimate1662
    DOI: 10.1038/nclimate1662
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    Cited by:

    1. George Cunningham & Brian P. McCullough & Shelby Hohensee, 2020. "Physical activity and climate change attitudes," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 61-74, March.
    2. Shi, Dan & Wang, Lei & Wang, Zhenxia, 2019. "What affects individual energy conservation behavior: Personal habits, external conditions or values? An empirical study based on a survey of college students," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 150-161.
    3. Heinz, Nicolai & Koessler, Ann-Kathrin, 2021. "Other-regarding preferences and pro-environmental behaviour: An interdisciplinary review of experimental studies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    4. Robert Mai & Stefan Hoffmann & Ingo Balderjahn, 2021. "When drivers become inhibitors of organic consumption: the need for a multistage view," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 49(6), pages 1151-1174, November.
    5. Braito, Michael & Flint, Courtney & Muhar, Andreas & Penker, Marianne & Vogel, Stefan, 2017. "Individual and collective socio-psychological patterns of photovoltaic investment under diverging policy regimes of Austria and Italy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 141-153.
    6. Andrew P. Barnes & Amanda Lucas & Gregory Maio, 2016. "Quantifying ambivalence towards sustainable intensification: an exploration of the UK public’s values," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(3), pages 609-619, June.
    7. Lasarov, Wassili & Hoffmann, Stefan & Mai, Robert & Schleich, Joachim, 2024. "Carbon footprint tracking apps: The spillover effects of feedback and goal-activating appeals," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    8. Anouk M Griffioen & Michel J J Handgraaf & Gerrit Antonides, 2019. "Which construal level combinations generate the most effective interventions? A field experiment on energy conservation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(1), pages 1-24, January.
    9. Alacevich, Caterina & Bonev, Petyo & Söderberg, Magnus, 2021. "Pro-environmental interventions and behavioral spillovers: Evidence from organic waste sorting in Sweden," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    10. Perlaviciute, G. & Steg, L., 2015. "The influence of values on evaluations of energy alternatives," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 259-267.
    11. Dominik Bär & Stefan Feuerriegel & Ting Li & Markus Weinmann, 2023. "Message framing to promote solar panels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    12. Svobodova, Kamila & Vojar, Jiri & Yellishetty, Mohan & Janeckova Molnarova, Kristina, 2020. "A multi-component approach to conceptualizing the reputation of the mining industry from a stakeholder perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    13. Brock Bastian & Airong Zhang & Kieren Moffat, 2015. "The Interaction of Economic Rewards and Moral Convictions in Predicting Attitudes toward Resource Use," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-9, August.
    14. Griffioen, Anouk M. & van Beek, Jannette & N. Lindhout, Simone & J. J. Handgraaf, Michel, 2016. "Distance Makes The Mind Grow Broader: An Overview Of Psychological Distance Studies In The Environmental And Health Domains," APSTRACT: Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, AGRIMBA, vol. 10(2-3), pages 1-14, October.
    15. Matthew Amengual & Evan P. Apfelbaum, 2021. "True Motives: Prosocial and Instrumental Justifications for Behavioral Change in Organizations," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(8), pages 5032-5051, August.
    16. Chankrajang, Thanyaporn & Muttarak, Raya, 2017. "Green Returns to Education: Does Schooling Contribute to Pro-Environmental Behaviours? Evidence from Thailand," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 434-448.
    17. Chersoni, Giulia & DellaValle, Nives & Fontana, Magda, 2022. "Modelling thermal insulation investment choice in the EU via a behaviourally informed agent-based model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    18. Muriel C. D. Verain & Siet J. Sijtsema & Hans Dagevos & Gerrit Antonides, 2017. "Attribute Segmentation and Communication Effects on Healthy and Sustainable Consumer Diet Intentions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-19, May.
    19. Yang, Xisi & Thøgersen, John, 2022. "When people are green and greedy: A new perspective of recycling rewards and crowding-out in Germany, the USA and China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 217-235.
    20. Mahir Yazar & Dina Hestad & Diana Mangalagiu & Yuge Ma & Thomas F Thornton & Ali Kerem Saysel & Dajian Zhu, 2020. "Enabling environments for regime destabilization towards sustainable urban transitions in megacities: comparing Shanghai and Istanbul," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 160(4), pages 727-752, June.
    21. Hans Jørn Juhl & Morten H. J. Fenger & John Thøgersen, 2017. "Will the Consistent Organic Food Consumer Step Forward? An Empirical Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 44(3), pages 519-535.
    22. Audronė Minelgaitė & Genovaitė Liobikienė, 2021. "Changes in pro-environmental behaviour and its determinants during long-term period in a transition country as Lithuania," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(11), pages 16083-16099, November.

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