Concern for the future and saving the earth: When does ecological resource scarcity promote pro-environmental behavior?

Gu, Dian; Jiang, Jiang; Zhang, Yue; Sun, Ying; Wen, Jiang; Du, Xiaopeng

doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101501

Cited by 33 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Gu et al distinguish two categories: present-oriented behavior and future-oriented behavior. They reflect the extent to which individuals take into account the present or distant effects of their current behavior [42].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pro-Environmental Behaviors of Generation Z in the Context of the Concept of Homo Socio-Oeconomicus

2021

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The research reported here aims to investigate the pro-environmental behavior of respondents in the context of the concept of homo socio-oeconomicus. The main research question addressed in this paper considers the pro-environmental behavior of Generation Z representatives, due to the fact that this age group is believed to display different behavior patterns. In order to identify the differences in the pro-environmental behaviors of Generation Z, the results obtained from this group have been confronted with declarations of respondents from an older group (aged 25 to 65). It is worth noting that in the research on pro-environmental behavior of households in Poland conducted so far, Generation Z has not been taken into consideration as a separate demographic, so this study aims to make a contribution to the existing research gap. The data on the surveyed population were obtained through a standardized research questionnaire. The survey was carried out using the internet surveying technique—computer-assisted web interview (CAWI). This paper uses descriptive, tabular and graphic methods to analyze and present the collected materials. The basic measures of descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the dataset, i.e., mean, median, mode, Pearson chi-square test and Mann–Whitney U test. The conducted research has shown that the representatives of Generation Z are less engaged in pro-environmental behavior than people from the older age group. Their pro-environmental actions mainly included turning off lights when leaving a room and choosing public transportation as the basic means of transport. For the whole surveyed sample, the most highly rated pro-environmental behaviors included those imposed by legal regulations and those whose implementation brings financial benefits in the form of lower maintenance costs. The main motivating and demotivating factors determining pro-environmental behavior were predominantly economic in nature.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pro-Environmental Behaviors of Generation Z in the Context of the Concept of Homo Socio-Oeconomicus

2021

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“…The ratio in ISD is interpreted to represent how many generations can enjoy the positive amount of resources before reaching the “devastating consequence” of resource extinction (i.e., ), when all the current and subsequent generations keep choosing unsustainable options. Therefore, it is very important and can be considered similar to an idea of the “tipping point” in the ecological system 8 , 14 , 47 , 48 . However, there is a distinction between the DG and the ISDG in that a dictator unidirectionally affects only one receiver, while the current generation unidirectionally affects not only the next generation but also all subsequent generations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…

system 8,14,47,48 . However, there is a distinction between the DG and the ISDG in that a dictator unidirectionally affects only one receiver, while the current generation unidirectionally affects not only the next generation but also all subsequent generations.

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confidence: 99%

Intergenerational sustainability is enhanced by taking the perspective of future generations

Shahen

Kotani

Saijo

2021

Sci Rep

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The intergenerational sustainability dilemma (ISD) is a situation of whether or not a person sacrifices herself for future sustainability. To examine the individual behaviors, one-person ISD game (ISDG) is instituted with strategy method where a queue of individuals is organized as a generational sequence. In ISDG, each individual chooses unsustainable (or sustainable) option with her payoff of $$X$$ X ($$X-D$$ X - D ) and an irreversible cost of $$D$$ D (zero cost) to future generations in $$36$$ 36 situations. Future ahead and back (FAB) mechanism is suggested as resolution for ISD by taking the perspective of future generation whereby each individual is first asked to take the next generation’s standpoint and request what she wants the current generation to choose, and, second, to make the actual decision from the original position. Results show that individuals choose unsustainable option as previous generations do so or $$\frac{X}{D}$$ X D is low (i.e., sustainability is endangered). However, FAB prevents individuals from choosing unsustainable option in such endangered situations. Overall, the results suggest that some new institutions, such as FAB mechanisms, which induce people to take the perspective of future generations, may be necessary to avoid intergenerational unsustainability, especially when intergenerational sustainability is highly endangered.

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“…For instance, research in psychology has shown that the sense of agency, a feeling of personal control over one's life outcomes, is a moderator of the relationship between beliefs about climate change and mitigation practices (Eom et al, 2018). Time preferences have also been identified as a moderator of the attitudes-behaviour relationship: future-oriented populations and individuals tend to display behaviours that are better aligned with their attitudes (Gu et al, 2020;Rabinovich et al, 2009;Tam & Chan, 2017). In addition, perceived efforts associated with environmental behaviours plays an important role, such that environmental attitudes are good predictors of behaviours that are easy to perform, but not of difficult ones (Diekmann & Preisendörfer, 2003;Farjam et al, 2019;Schultz & Oskamp, 1996).…”

Section: Psychological Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The belief-action gap in environmental psychology: How wide? How irrational?

Grandin¹,

Boon-Falleur²,

Chevallier³

2021

Preprint

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The belief-action gap was originally conceptualized by psychologists who aimed to ground behaviour in beliefs but found that their models had little predictive value. The recurrent use of this concept often comes with the assumption that human behaviour is somewhat irrational or weirdly misaligned with their beliefs. This gap is particularly striking in the environmental domain, where many people seemingly think one way but act another. In this chapter, we review a number of factors that hinder general beliefs from translating into actual behaviours. We emphasize the existence of measurement issues, information deficits about the exact impact of one’s actions, structural factors and psychological factors that together impact the robustness of the association between beliefs and actions. In particular, socio-cognitive factors have a massive impact on people’s decisions to act in ways that are aligned with their deep- seated beliefs. Once all these factors are properly taken into account, it becomes clear that the belief-action gap is not a token of human irrationality but should in fact be expected.

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Concern for the future and saving the earth: When does ecological resource scarcity promote pro-environmental behavior?

Cited by 33 publications

References 49 publications

Pro-Environmental Behaviors of Generation Z in the Context of the Concept of Homo Socio-Oeconomicus

Pro-Environmental Behaviors of Generation Z in the Context of the Concept of Homo Socio-Oeconomicus

Intergenerational sustainability is enhanced by taking the perspective of future generations

The belief-action gap in environmental psychology: How wide? How irrational?

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