Going Green: A Systematic Review of Proenvironmental Empirical Research in Behavior Analysis

Gelino, Brett W.; Erath, Tyler G.; Reed, Derek D.

doi:10.1007/s42822-020-00043-x

Cited by 28 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…This is neither speculation nor a new idea. In fact, behavior analysis has a longstanding tradition in applying its principles to the study and promotion of pro-environmental behavior research ( Cone and Hayes, 1980 ; Dwyer et al, 1993 ; Lehman and Geller, 2004 ; Foxall et al, 2006 ; Gelino et al, 2021 ; Schneider and Sanguinetti, 2021 ). However, only few behavior analysts currently work in the field of environmental psychology ( Schneider and Sanguinetti, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussion: Potential Contributions To Research On Pro-envir...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They have relied on objective observations of actual behavior in the field, which has resulted in a rich research literature that can be informative for pro-environmental behavior researchers independent of their theoretical background. In addition to instructive analyses of methodological and conceptual aspects of behavioral assessment ( Kazdin, 1979 , 1982 ; Nelson and Hayes, 1979 ; Bailey and Burch, 2018 ), this literature contains numerous empirical examples illustrating how pro-environmental behaviors can be studied without self-reports (see Lehman and Geller, 2004 ; Gelino et al, 2021 ; for review). For example, Mayer and Geller (1982–1983 ) report a study involving the unobtrusive observation of cycling behavior as a function of an incentive intervention.…”

Section: Discussion: Potential Contributions To Research On Pro-envir...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Potential Contributions of Behavior Analysis to Research on Pro-environmental Behavior

Wille

Lange

2022

Front. Psychol.

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Large parts of contemporary research on pro-environmental behavior focus on mechanistic explanations and mental constructs. Exclusive reliance on this approach may hinder the search for novel solutions to conceptual problems, more powerful methods, and innovative behavior change interventions. Theoretical diversity, on the other hand, can render a field adaptive in its responses to crises and impasses. Against this background, we describe the complementary approach of behavior analysis and its potential contributions to problems of contemporary research on pro-environmental behavior. Behavior analysis (1) provides a consistent account of phenomena that are difficult to reconcile with the mechanistic perspective, (2) redirects the spotlight to context, (3) provides a framework and methodology for assessing behavior with actual environmental impact, and (4) could inspire the development of new intervention techniques. Based on these contributions, we conclude that behavior analysis could substantially enrich research on pro-environmental behavior.

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Section: Discussion: Potential Contributions To Research On Pro-envir...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussion: Potential Contributions To Research On Pro-envir...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Contributions of Behavior Analysis to Research on Pro-environmental Behavior

Wille

Lange

2022

Front. Psychol.

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“…Measures are needed to effectively promote more sustainable customer behaviour. However, before such measures become reality, research is still required, and interventions that use phase-specific concepts need to be tested experimentally in the field (Gelino et al, 2021;Keller et al, 2021;Lange & Dewitte, 2019). While in our opinion there would be numerous opportunities to systematically test subtle measures in real-life settings with high external validity, unfortunately no real online store operators were willing to be partners for the experiment.…”

Section: Implications For Research and Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond one size fits all? An experimental study of the effects of stage‐specific interventions to promote ecological online food shopping

Berger¹,

Burkhalter²

2022

J of Consumer Behaviour

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Encouraging people to consume sustainably is more important than ever to tackle climate change. In the area of nutrition, we focused on understanding how social norm inspired treatments can effectively be applied to promote sustainable purchasing without restricting choice. Many intervention studies in this area have applied 'one size fits all'-measures, ignoring the target group's context and psycho-social preconditions. To examine the effectiveness of tailored interventions, we tested the impact on purchasing decisions of four treatments. The treatments were developed based on the four stages of behavioural change that conceptualise behavioural change as a transition through a sequence of stages: predecision, preaction, action, and postaction. In an online experiment (N = 855), these treatments (shopping assistant, success story, commitment, and feedback) were integrated into a true-to-theoriginal online food shop and socio-psychological constructs were collected using a downstream questionnaire. The results of a regression analysis showed that there are differences in the effectiveness of the treatments on participants' purchasing decisions. The feedback treatment turned out to be a particularly effective measure for encouraging large numbers of people at different stages of behavioural change to select greener products. In line with theory, the impact of several socio-psychological variables designed to encourage more eco-friendly purchases increased from stage to stage. The results may motivate online food shop providers to create customer experiences that promote eco-friendly consumption. At the same time, it should also encourage other researchers working in this field to develop effective measures that support the achievement of sustainability goals.

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“…And a recent paper by Schneider and Sanguinetti (2021) highlighted that other behavior-analytic interventions (that have heretofore been underutilized) carry significant promise. The extant body of literature (see Abrahamse et al, 2005;Gelino et al, 2021;Maki et al, 2016;Nisa et al, 2019;Osbaldiston & Schott, 2012;and Wynes et al, 2018, for reviews) is the foundation of knowledge for producing large-scale behavior change to reduce emissions.…”

Section: Influencing Behavior Relevant To Ghg Emissionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Doing so requires no particular changes to measurement procedures that are characteristic of behavior-analytic literature in this area (see Gelino et al, 2021, for exemplars of measurement tactics). What is needed is for each organization involved in the community intervention to track and report their emissions so that emissions may be aggregated from individual units up to the total-sector level.…”

Section: Experimental Evaluation Of Community Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rebooting Behavioral Science to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bonner

Biglan

2021

Behav. Soc. Iss.

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There is no question that climate change threatens the very existence of the human species. Indeed, there is mounting evidence that the sixth mass extinction event is well and truly underway. Mitigating the threats imposed by a warming climate requires a dynamic and coordinated approach, including a strong international coalition embodied by the Paris Agreement, significant investment in technological innovations to redesign the way resource-intensive commodities are produced, and a renewed emphasis on shifting climate-relevant behavior toward more sustainable alternatives. The latter has been largely neglected by the international community and funding agencies. This article serves to identify the international context in which efforts to reduce emissions using behavioral science are embedded. We highlight some of the work of behavioral scientists to enhance pro-environmental behavior that will prove vital to large-scale efforts to reduce emissions. We propose a model for designing experimental evaluations of multisector community interventions to reduce emissions on large scales. Finally, we issue a call to action for behavioral scientists and community organizers to collaborate in a new age of behavioral science research to curb the climate crisis. Keywords Climate change . Community intervention . Greenhouse gas emissionsThe imminent and existential threats posed by a warming climate have been well documented (see Grant, 2011, and Thompson, 2010, for reviews). Achieving net-zero emissions as soon as possible is vital to mitigating these threats. But anthropogenic emissions continue to rise (Jackson et al., 2018), and climate-induced human migrations (termed "climigrations") are in full flux across the globe (Palinkas, 2020). The harsh impacts of climate change on human well-being are no longer in the future. They have arrived in full force.

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Going Green: A Systematic Review of Proenvironmental Empirical Research in Behavior Analysis

Cited by 28 publications

References 104 publications

Potential Contributions of Behavior Analysis to Research on Pro-environmental Behavior

Potential Contributions of Behavior Analysis to Research on Pro-environmental Behavior

Beyond one size fits all? An experimental study of the effects of stage‐specific interventions to promote ecological online food shopping

Rebooting Behavioral Science to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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