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Breaking cognitive barriers to a sustainable future

Author

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  • Elke U. Weber

    (Elke U. Weber is the Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment and Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs at Princeton University, Andlinger Center, Room 216, 86 Olden Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.)

Abstract

As humans, our decision-making process is biased towards maintaining the status quo, even if an alternative choice has substantial long-term benefits. This cognitive myopia and present bias, when applied to decisions that affect sustainability, could be threatening our future.

Suggested Citation

  • Elke U. Weber, 2017. "Breaking cognitive barriers to a sustainable future," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-2, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:1:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41562-016-0013
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-016-0013
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas A. Papandreou, 2019. "Stranded assets and the financial system," Working Papers 272, Bank of Greece.
    2. Fanghella, Valeria & Faure, Corinne & Guetlein, Marie-Charlotte & Schleich, Joachim, 2023. "What's in it for me? Self-interest and preferences for distribution of costs and benefits of energy efficiency policies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PA).
    3. Stephanie Mertens & Ulf J. J. Hahnel & Tobias Brosch, 2020. "This way, please: Uncovering the directional effects of attribute translations on decision making," Judgment and Decision Making, Society for Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 15(1), pages 25-46, January.
    4. Roman Trötschel & Marie van Treek & Caroline Heydenbluth & Kai Zhang & Johann M. Majer, 2022. "From Claiming to Creating Value: The Psychology of Negotiations on Common Resource Dilemmas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-26, April.
    5. Francesca Scafuto, 2019. "Climate risk for the self and community: The role of Nature Relatedness, Personal Control and Mindfulness," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(2), pages 89-108.
    6. Cotterman, Turner, 2019. "Why Rapid and Deep Decarbonization isn’t Simple: Linking Bottom-up Socio-technical Decision-making Insights with Top-down Macroeconomic Analyses," Conference papers 333088, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    7. Yinan Li & Neng Zhu & Beibei Qin, 2019. "What Affects the Progress and Transformation of New Residential Building Energy Efficiency Promotion in China: Stakeholders’ Perceptions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-41, March.
    8. Gabriele Torma & John Thøgersen, 2024. "Can a meta sustainability label facilitate more sustainable consumer choices?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 283-306, February.
    9. Sergio Manuel Madero-Gómez & Yanira Lizeth Rubio Leal & Miguel Olivas-Luján & Mohd Yusoff Yusliza, 2023. "Companies Could Benefit When They Focus on Employee Wellbeing and the Environment: A Systematic Review of Sustainable Human Resource Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-12, March.
    10. Tobia Spampatti & Ulf J. J. Hahnel & Evelina Trutnevyte & Tobias Brosch, 2024. "Psychological inoculation strategies to fight climate disinformation across 12 countries," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(2), pages 380-398, February.
    11. repec:cup:judgdm:v:15:y:2020:i:1:p:25-46 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Rabaa, Simon & Geisendorf, Sylvie & Wilken, Robert, 2022. "Why change does (not) happen: Understanding and overcoming status quo biases in climate change mitigation," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 45(1), pages 100-134.
    13. Kasperbauer, T.J., 2017. "The permissibility of nudging for sustainable energy consumption," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 52-57.
    14. Juliette N. Rooney-Varga & Florian Kapmeier & John D. Sterman & Andrew P. Jones & Michele Putko & Kenneth Rath, 2020. "The Climate Action Simulation," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 51(2), pages 114-140, April.

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