Abstract
Based on the ‘Inclusion Model of Environmental Concern’, we tested whether daily messaging intervention increases participants’ pro-environmental behavior (PEB). In a two (time: pre vs. post, repeated measure) × three (condition: egoistic appeals, ecological appeals, control group) experimental design, two hundred and eighteen individuals received either daily messages containing egoistic appeals for action to prevent climate change (e.g., preventing personal consequences of released diseases in melting arctic ice), ecological appeals (e.g., ecological consequences of melting glaciers), or no messages (control). PEB was assessed via self-reports and donations to an environmental organization. Neither of the appeals had an effect on the two dependent measures. Irrespective of experimental conditions, self-reported PEB was higher in the post- compared with the pre-test. Overall, the present results do not provide support for the effectiveness of a daily messaging technique. Instead, it appears that ‘being observed’ is the more effective ‘intervention’. Implications for how to foster PEB are discussed.
Highlights
As climate change is human-caused [1], the solution of global climate crisis lies in human hands
pro-environmental behavior (PEB) was assessed via self-reports and donations to an environmental organization
The experimental groups differed in PEB at time one, F (2, 203) = 3.39, p = 0.036, η2 = 0.03
Summary
As climate change is human-caused [1], the solution of global climate crisis lies in human hands. Pro-environmental behavior (PEB) means minimizing environmental impact or benefitting the environment through human behavior and is increasingly becoming a vital factor in environmental psychology. Interventions to promote PEB have previously focused on informational strategies to increase awareness, shape attitudes, and, as a result, change human behavior [2]. Informational strategies for promoting PEB do not change external contexts but focus on feedback, goal setting, and persuasion principles, among others [2,3]. Persuasion means providing information with the aim to change attitudes or behavior. Persuasion has been predominately used as a one-time intervention by presenting video or word stimuli. To achieve higher message effectiveness, the present study employed daily messaging intervention during a five-day period
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