Abstract
It has been clearly demonstrated that environmental knowledge and environmental awareness have relatively small impacts on pro-environmental behavior (PEBs.) (Finger, 1994) ( Vicente-Molina, M. A., Fernández-Sáinz, A., & Izagirre-Olaizola, J. 2013) (Bamberg, S., & Möser, G., 2007). Decades of public information campaigns and other programs that attempt to inform the public of the growing probability of environmental calamities in the US have not significantly changed personal behaviors that are large drivers of climate change such as growing average house sizes, driving alone, and gas powered SUV ownership. These three behaviors among others continue to move in an unsustainable direction. (Desilver, 2015) Research into motivation in the fields of environmental psychology, the psychology of sustainability, game and economic theory, and sustainability communication demonstrate new insights into what motivates behavioral change. Defaults, group norming, positive personal experiences in nature, social norming, and higher self-efficacy have all been demonstrated to have measurable effects on increasing pro-environmental or ecologically sustainable behavior which includes pro-environmental, frugal, altruistic, and equitable conducts. The existing research demonstrates that there are four understudied but promising areas for motivating PEBs: meditation to increase altruism, engaging rebellion to increase PEBs, framing PEBs as social norms, and presenting PEBs as methods to increase health and happiness outcomes.
Presenters
Adrah Niccolo ParafiniukVisiting Instructor/Ph.D Student, Politics and International Affairs, Northern Arizona University, Arizona, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Sustainability Policy and Practice
KEYWORDS
PEBs, Altruism, Happiness
Digital Media
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