Introduction: Dealing with what is

Heward, William L.; Chance, Paul

doi:10.1007/bf03392210

Cited by 17 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It is also clear that emissions of greenhouse gases increase climate change (IPCC, 2001). Research has helped to specify practices that could mitigate climate change effects and reduce further warming (Heward & Chance, 2010; IPCC, 2001; Newsome & Alavosius, 2011; Thompson, 2010). …”

Section: Future-oriented Practices Of Groups Organizations and Nationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acting in light of the future: How do future-oriented cultural practices evolve and how can we accelerate their evolution?

Biglan

Barnes‐Holmes

2015

Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite extensive knowledge of how to prevent or ameliorate serious diseases, natural disasters, environmental degradation, and a wide range of other problems, we often fail to take action that that would prevent or mitigate these problematic outcomes. In short, although we may have sound scientific knowledge about threats to future wellbeing, we appear to have limited insight into how to benefit from this knowledge. With this paper, we argue that our current scientific understanding of how to act in light of the future is limited, but we offer a theoretical analysis of future-oriented behavior at both individual and organizational levels. Specifically, the paper draws on a functional contextualist account of human language and cognition, Relational Frame Theory (RFT), and its integrated therapeutic approach, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and extends this framework to analyzing the evolution of the practices of groups and organizations. This framework can provide an understanding of how human behavior may be modified in the present to serve improving human wellbeing in the future at individual, organizational, and even national levels.

show abstract

Section: Future-oriented Practices Of Groups Organizations and Nationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acting in light of the future: How do future-oriented cultural practices evolve and how can we accelerate their evolution?

Biglan

Barnes‐Holmes

2015

Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Unfortunately, many Americans do not consider that global climate change is a result of anthropogenic inputs. In October 2009, the Pew Research Center found that only 57 per cent of Americans believe global warming to be real, down from 71 per cent in April 2008 (Heward and Chance, 2010;Thompson and Kuo, 2010). That being the case, it is unlikely that these individuals would make environmentally sound decisions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of information regarding sustainability issues and behavioral self-management instruction on college students’ energy conservation

Mosher

Desrochers

2014

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the effectiveness of sustainability information and strategies to change pro-environmental (pro-e) behavior with introductory environmental science laboratory students. Design/methodology/approach – A one-group pretest posttest study was used to evaluate a two-hour workshop in which 30 participants were instructed in sustainability education and behavior change strategies. Participants implemented self-management strategies and tracked their energy use every week for two weeks following the pro-e training. Findings – A significant difference between participants’ baseline and Week 2 energy use assessments was found. The results suggest that the pro-e training increased participants’ energy conservation behavior for their targeted device. Moreover, participants decreased their energy usage for other measured electronic devices, suggesting generalization of treatment effects. Research limitations/implications – A sizable savings in energy was realized across all participants and devices (approximately 300 hours). However, there was no control group in this one-group pretest posttest study and the effect of reactivity cannot be discounted. Practical implications – This research suggests that behavior change strategies may be effective at improving pro-e behaviors. The relative ease and low cost of delivering the instruction, and minimal effort on the part of the participant to make behavior changes, provides a solid foundation from which to disseminate sustainability education. Originality/value – This paper describes a preliminary evaluation of a behavior change approach to teach students about how to change their pro-e behaviors. Limited prior research has examined self-management to alter pro-e behavior.

show abstract