Spillover effects in environmental behaviors, across time and context: a review and research agenda

Nilsson, Andréas; Bergquist, Magnus; Schultz, Wesley

doi:10.1080/13504622.2016.1250148

Cited by 233 publications

(229 citation statements)

References 94 publications

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“…The current research also adds to research showing that people are not always consistent when it comes to their environmentally friendly behaviors across situations and time (e.g., Hope et al, 2017;Meijers, Noordewier, & Avramova, 2013;Nilsson, Bergquist, & Schultz, 2017;Truelove, Carrico, Weber, Raimi, & Vandenbergh, 2014). That is, on one hand, research shows that one's environmentally friendly behavior in one domain may positively spill over into another domain.…”

Section: Sustained Environmentally Friendly Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 54%

Taking Close Others’ Environmental Behavior Into Account When Striking the Moral Balance? Evidence for Vicarious Licensing, Not for Vicarious Cleansing

Meijers

Noordewier

Verlegh

et al. 2018

Environment and Behavior

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Research shows that people search for balance in their moral (e.g., environmentally friendly) behaviors such that they feel licensed to behave less morally after a previous moral act (licensing) and cleanse previous morally questionable behaviors by subsequently behaving more morally (cleansing). This article investigates whether this balancing may extend to close others, but not to nonclose others, and tests vicarious licensing and cleansing in the environmental domain. Study 1 showed that vicarious licensing effects are more likely when a close other displayed environmentally friendly (vs. neutral) behavior. Study 2 showed that environmental vicarious licensing effects are more likely for close than nonclose others. Studies 3 and 4 suggested that vicarious licensing effects, but not vicarious cleansing effects are more likely for close (vs. nonclose) others. Finally, a meta-analysis

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Section: Sustained Environmentally Friendly Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 54%

Taking Close Others’ Environmental Behavior Into Account When Striking the Moral Balance? Evidence for Vicarious Licensing, Not for Vicarious Cleansing

Meijers

Noordewier

Verlegh

et al. 2018

Environment and Behavior

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“…There is, therefore, a need to find ways to better understand and promote sustained engagement in pro-environmental behaviors (American Psychological Association, 2015). One current topic of interest in this regard is “spillover” (see, Nilsson, Bergquist, & Schultz, 2017). Spillover is the extent to which engaging in one behavior influences the likelihood of engaging in a subsequent behavior.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spillover is the extent to which engaging in one behavior influences the likelihood of engaging in a subsequent behavior. This may be a different behavior, or the same behavior enacted in a different time or context (Austin, Cox, Barnett, & Thomas, 2011; Nilsson et al, 2017). For example, those introducing a recycling scheme at work might anticipate that this will lead employees to recycle at home.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…“Negative spillover” effects refer to circumstances where the performance of one behavior (e.g., recycling) reduces the likelihood that someone will perform a complementary behavior (e.g., conserve water; for reviews, see Dolan & Galizzi, 2015; Nilsson et al, 2017). Thus, whereas positive spillover is generally desirable and explains consistencies in people’s behavior, negative spillover is typically more problematic, explaining not only the inconsistencies in people’s pro-environmental (and other) actions but also the limited effects of some behavior change interventions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to a recent conceptual review, negative spillover in environmental behavior is related to notions of “rebound” and “moral licensing” (see, Nilsson et al, 2017). In the context of environmental actions, rebound effects typically refer to situations where technological advancements (e.g., making goods more efficient) not only reduce costs but also—potentially as a consequence—increase use, and so the net impact on the environment is unchanged (e.g., Alcott, 2005; Berkhout, Muskens, & Velthuijsen, 2000; Sorrell, 2009).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Role of Compensatory Beliefs in Rationalizing Environmentally Detrimental Behaviors

Hope

Jones

Webb

et al. 2017

Environment and Behavior

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Compensatory green beliefs (CGBs) reflect the idea that a pro-environmental behavior (e.g., recycling) can off-set the negative effects of an environmentally detrimental behavior (e.g., driving). It is thought that CGBs might help explain why people act in ways that appear to contradict their pro-environmental intentions, and inconsistently engage in pro-environmental behaviors. The present study sought to investigate the nature and use of CGBs. A series of interviews suggested that participants endorsed CGBs to (a) reduce feelings of guilt with respect to (the assumed or actual) negative environmental impact of their actions and (b) defend their green credentials in social situations. Participants also justified detrimental behaviors on the basis of higher loyalties (e.g., family’s needs), or the perceived difficulty of performing more pro-environmental actions. In addition to shedding light on how, when, and why people might hold and use CGBs, the research also provides new insight into how CGBs should be assessed.

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Employees' geographic social identity and group pro‐environmental behaviors: Cross‐cultural evidence from 45 countries

Zeng

Tso

et al. 2022

Bus Strat Env

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Employees' group pro‐environmental behaviors (PEBs) represent employees' collective efforts to combat critical global environmental problems. Drawing on social identity theory, we examined how employees' group PEBs can be inspired by different forms of geographic social identity (i.e., world identity, national identity, and regional identity). We analyzed data from the most recent (seventh) wave of the World Value Survey (2017–2022), which covers 34,951 employees from 45 nations. We found that employees' world identity contributed more than their regional identity and national identity to their engagement in group PEBs, by inducing a green orientation that prioritized environmental protection over economic growth. In addition, we obtained cross‐country evidence that the effect of world identity on green orientation is more pronounced in individualist than in collectivist societies. Our findings help to resolve inconsistencies in prior research regarding the theoretical link between social identity and PEBs and provide actionable insights for academics, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to facilitate group PEBs in organizations.

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Spillover effects in environmental behaviors, across time and context: a review and research agenda

Cited by 233 publications

References 94 publications

Taking Close Others’ Environmental Behavior Into Account When Striking the Moral Balance? Evidence for Vicarious Licensing, Not for Vicarious Cleansing

Taking Close Others’ Environmental Behavior Into Account When Striking the Moral Balance? Evidence for Vicarious Licensing, Not for Vicarious Cleansing

The Role of Compensatory Beliefs in Rationalizing Environmentally Detrimental Behaviors

Employees' geographic social identity and group pro‐environmental behaviors: Cross‐cultural evidence from 45 countries

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