Personal Norms Research Articles

Platform and customer characteristics in purchasing from a recommerce platform: an empirical investigation of customer perceptions

ABSTRACT Although evidence supports the prevalence of collaborative and sustainable consumption online, limited research has examined this phenomenon. This study applied the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework to develop a model of recommerce customer behaviour. The model examines the effects of platform attributes of convenience, fairness, and security and customer characteristics of innovation and norms on attitudes toward sustainability and toward the recommerce platform. In turn, the association between customer attitude and repurchase intention is investigated. A partial least squares structural equation model is employed to evaluate the research model using survey questionnaire data. The results show that platform characteristics of fairness and convenience are key determinants of a positive attitude toward the recommerce platform, whereas customer personal norms are important precursors of attitude toward sustainable consumption. The effects of the two types of attitude on repurchase intention are identified. Furthermore, usage frequency influences the relationship between the recommerce experience and its outcome. Considering both platform and customer characteristics produces novel insights that elucidate the determinants of sustainable consumption behaviour.

Chronic Sorrow: Lived Experiences of Family Caregivers of People With Severe Mental Illness

This study explores loss experiences and trigger events of chronic sorrow among family caregivers who support a relative with a severe mental illness. Chronic sorrow is a theoretical concept describing a normal grief response associated with an ongoing loss. A total of 39 Dutch family caregivers were interviewed. They report experiencing three kinds of loss: loss of a person, loss of the former relationship, and loss of a normal life. Seven specific trigger events were identified: (a) confrontation with symptoms, (b) comparisons with developmental, social and personal norms, (c) role change, (d) deterioration, (e) hospitalization, (f) disregard and disrespect by health professionals, and (g) worries and memories. This paper suggests that mental health professionals should realize that they can (unintentionally) trigger chronic sorrow by disregarding and/or disrespecting family caregivers. Awareness of the mechanism can lead to greater understanding within and improvement of the partnership between family caregivers and health professionals.

Residents' willingness to engage in carbon generalized system of preferences - A personality insight study based on the extended theory of planned behavior

In the context of China's dual carbon target, reducing personal carbon emissions has been identified as a crucial strategy to achieve the target. The 2022 Digital China Development Report emphasizes the significance of implementing the Carbon Generalized System of Preferences (CGSP) in driving individual carbon reduction efforts in China. However, the psychological factors influencing public participation in CGSP are still unknown. Based on the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study explored the psychological factors of different personality trait groups' participation in the CGSP and categorized 712 respondents into Compatible, Positive, Responsible, and Susceptible based on the MINI-IPIP scale and the K-means method. The results show that the strength of willingness to engage (WTE) in CGSP was ranked as: Compatible > Positive > Responsible > Susceptible and the WTE of compatible groups is more influenced by attitude, while Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) plays a more crucial role in other groups. Personal Norms (PN) and Policy Awareness (PA) were significant for all specific personality groups except the Susceptible group. Surprisingly subjective norms had little to do with WTE. We believe that policymakers should consider the impact of PBC on WTE when formulating policies and raise the expectation of residents in terms of the value they can obtain from participating in CGSP. Additionally, promotional activities related to PN and PA in connection with CGSP should be conducted. These efforts may help individuals better engage in CGSP.

Factors influencing air passengers' intention to purchase voluntary carbon offsetting programs: The moderating role of environmental knowledge

BackgroundThis paper aims to investigate the factors that influence air passengers' intention to purchase the VCO program by applying the extended Theory of Planned Behavior. Furthermore, we examine how the influence of these factors on purchasing intention varies according to passengers' levels of environmental knowledge. MethodsWe surveyed 319 individuals in Korea who have had air travel experience within the past three years and are planning future air travel. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 25.0. To verify validity and reliability, we conducted confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis. Hypotheses were tested using a structural equation model, and the moderating effect of environmental knowledge was verified through multi-group analysis. FindingsOur findings revealed that personal norms, subjective norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control influence customers' intentions to purchase VCO program, in that order. Additionally, a critical aspect of our research is the multigroup analysis that demonstrates how environmental knowledge moderates the effects of attitudes and personal norms on purchase intentions. This indicates that the level of environmental awareness significantly shapes the decision-making process for participating in VCO program. Our study provides valuable insights for developing effective communication strategies to promote VCO program, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches based on individuals’ environmental knowledge. OriginalityThis study is the first to analyze the intention to purchase voluntary carbon offset (VCO) program among Korean passengers. We conducted a comprehensive analysis based on the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and investigated how the relative influence of each factor varies depending on the level of environmental knowledge.

Enhancing the Theory of Planned Behavior with Perceived Consumer Effectiveness and Environmental Concern towards Pro-Environmental Purchase Intentions for Eco-Friendly Apparel: A Review Article

The textile sector has become a significant source of pollution due to increasing carbon emissions, heightened greenhouse gas emissions, and growing landfill contributions. In response, the industry is turning towards sustainable fashion, which is gaining popularity as an eco-friendly practice. This study utilized the theory of planned behavior (TPB) alongside variables such as environmental concern, personal moral norms, and perceived consumer effectiveness to predict eco-friendly apparel purchasing intentions among educated Indian youth. The research applied variance-based partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess the proposed model. Results revealed that perceived behavioral control significantly and positively impacts purchasing intentions, followed by personal moral norms, general attitude, and perceived consumer effectiveness. Environmental concern was shown to indirectly influence purchasing intentions via the primary TPB variables and personal moral norms. Additionally, multi-group analysis (MGA) was used to investigate the moderating effects of perceived consumer effectiveness on the attitude-intention relationship, finding that individuals with higher perceived effectiveness displayed a more consistent attitude-intention correlation compared to those with lower perceived effectiveness. This study offers valuable insights for professionals and policymakers, suggesting the development of tailored sustainable marketing strategies and policies to address local market conditions.

Understanding food waste sorting behavior in institutional food services: An integrated psychological framework

Food waste from institutional food services accounts for a significant part of global food waste. Food waste sorting (FWS) at the source reduces waste management costs and environmental impacts in organizations. Yet what drives individual FWS behavior remains underexplored. This study explores the psychological process of FWS in institutional catering environments, integrating the value-belief-norm model, the theory of planned behavior, and self-determination theory. Data were collected from 431 university students in China and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results indicated the interplay of values, beliefs, norms, and motivations in shaping FWS behaviors. Social value orientations (SVO) indirectly affected FWS through awareness of consequences and personal norms. Subjective norms, potentially attributed to external regulations in canteens, influenced FWS intention through personal norms and induced FWS primarily via controlled motivations. The findings imply that behavioral strategies to induce FWS may leverage social influence and external regulation while also translating values and knowledge into intrinsic motivations through educational programs and awareness campaigns.

Tourism's circular economy: Opportunities and challenges from an integrated theoretical perspective

AbstractThis study explored circular economy (CE) performance in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism sector. The study's theoretical framework comprised value–belief–norm theory, institutional theory, upper echelon theory (UET), and the dynamic capabilities (DCs) approach. Empirical data from 286 Indian SMEs were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results indicated that personal norms, coercive pressures (CP), mimetic pressures (MP), and top management commitment toward the environment influenced CE performance through DCs. However, normative pressures (NP) did not significantly influence CE performance. DCs were a catalyst enabling individual beliefs, organizational factors, and external pressures to push SMEs toward a CE. Nevertheless, possibly due to insufficient resources, SMEs were reluctant in improving their CE performance. Policymakers and SME owners should therefore develop DCs in their organizations to achieve CE performance through appropriate resource assessment and design.

How sport tourism experience influences daily pro-environmental behaviour: the role of eco-friendly reputation and personal norm

ABSTRACT Tourism destinations are often considered vulnerable to environmental destruction due to the negative environmental impact that can be generated by tourist activities. Unfortunately, tourists’ pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) has been considered problematic even in outdoor activity-related tourist destinations, despite the close connection between tourists and the environment. Hence, it is necessary to tackle: what are the psychological processes that govern tourists’ PEB? Drawing on multiple cognitive psychological theories, we examined how sport tourists’ experiences spill-over to their daily PEB. Data were collected among tourists who visited Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort in Japan (n = 178). While testing five hypotheses using the two-wave time-lagged data collection method, it revealed that eco-friendly reputation and personal norm have a significant effect on the destination PEB while also spills over positively to the daily PEB. Additionally, there was no significant mediation effect, however, the total effect was both significantly positive for eco-friendly reputation and personal norm. Overall, the current research can contribute to the literature on sustainable tourism by illuminating the relationships among environmental and personal factors in shaping tourists’ PEB and highlighting the potential long-term destination experiences.

Understanding Crisis Preparedness: Insights from Personal Values, Beliefs, Social Norms, and Personal Norms

In disasters and crises, crisis preparation at the household level is crucial for societal resilience. However, motivating citizens to take personal responsibility and to implement preparedness measures remains challenging. This study investigates the impact of values, beliefs and norms on preparedness. Through a survey in Germany on resource-oriented crisis preparedness and participants’ values, a group of more prepared and less prepared individuals was differentiated. We quantitatively analyzed the correlation between values and crisis preparedness. A quantitative analysis revealed a significant association between the value of benevolence and higher preparedness. Follow-up interviews (N=30) explored participants' beliefs and norms, showing minimal group differences. Although crisis preparedness is generally viewed positively, strong negativity exists towards perceived “hoarders”. The study discusses implication for crisis communication and the design of nudges and persuasive systems, emphasizing intervention that can trigger benevolence to foster preparedness and appeal to the social benefits to counter the narrative of anti-social crisis preparedness.

Analyzing the influence of university support and entrepreneurial culture on solar entrepreneurial intentions among Indian students

The involvement of students in entrepreneurial activities related to solar energy has the potential to have a major impact on expanding energy access. Nevertheless, there is an absence of research on the dynamics and knowledge of solar entrepreneurship, specifically from an Indian perspective. The main aim of this study is to highlight the significance of solar energy entrepreneurship and its capacity to motivate and encourage university students towards entrepreneurship, thereby fostering sustainable development. The study intends to analyze several individual-level characteristics that influence university learners' intentions to engage in solar entrepreneurship. The goal of this study is to shed light on how students' career choices in the field of solar entrepreneurship are influenced by their personal passion, self-efficacy, personality traits, and social norms. A stratified random selection technique was employed to gather a representative sample of 279 university students who are currently enrolled in both public and private universities situated in the northwest region of India. The study employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine the relationship between individual-level factors and entrepreneurial attitude. The analysis indicated that all individual-level factors, except entrepreneurial passion, were significant predictors of entrepreneurial attitude. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated a positive association between student entrepreneurial attitudes and solar entrepreneurial intentions. The research also examines the managerial implications, limitations, and future scope of the research.

Gender gaps in the adoption of climate‐smart agricultural practices: Evidence from sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractIn this paper we examine whether there are significant gender differences in the adoption of climate‐smart agricultural (CSA) practices in sub‐Saharan Africa. Using individual‐level data from four sites in Kenya, Uganda and Senegal, our empirical analysis provides robust evidence that men have a higher likelihood of adopting high‐return CSA practices including modern chemical fertiliser, improved high‐yielding varieties and drought/pest tolerant livestock practices. In contrast, women tend to have a higher likelihood of adopting low‐risk and low‐return traditional CSA practices such as water harvesting, crop covering, rangeland management and pest management. Our subsample analysis shows significant heterogeneity in the gender gap across countries. The results of the decomposition of the observed gender gap show that personal values and norms, access to weather and production information and farm characteristics are important factors that explain the gender differential in the likelihood of CSA adoption. Our findings imply that equalising access to key resources such as plots of land, information and decision making power will be crucial to close the gender gap in the adoption of CSA practices. This is particularly important given the differential impacts of climate change between men and women in sub‐Saharan Africa.

Gratitude letters to nature: Effects on self-nature representations and pro-environmental behavioral intentions

Although gratitude is often defined as an emotion that motivates reciprocity and social connectedness, people can also experience gratitude to nonhuman entities such as nature. Despite expressions of gratitude to nature being common in many cultures, little research has examined its implications for sustainability. In two studies, we explored how writing letters of gratitude to nature increase pro-environmental behavior by leading people to see nature as large and by leading to more inclusion of nature in one's self-concept. Study 1 compared the effects of nature gratitude letters to gratitude letters to built environments and to a control condition, finding that nature gratitude letters led to greater inclusion of nature in self and greater perceptions of nature size. Although there was no direct effect on intentions to act pro-environmentally, nature gratitude letters had indirect effects leading to greater pro-environmental intentions via both increased nature size and nature inclusion. Study 2 replicated these findings and explored two potential moderators: biospheric value orientation and personal norms of positive reciprocity. Replicating Study 1, nature gratitude letters led to more nature inclusion and greater nature size, and they produced stronger self-transcendent emotions and more pro-environmental behavioral intentions. Further, an interaction showed that the benefits of nature gratitude letters on pro-environmental behavioral intentions was only significant among those with relatively greater endorsement of biospheric values. Implications for sustainability and emotions research are discussed.

Study on the Influence of Host–Guest Interaction on Tourists’ Pro-Environment Behavior: Evidence from Taishan National Forest Park in China

This study explores the influence of host–guest interaction on tourists’ pro-environment behavior. On the one hand, the experience attribute of host–guest interaction’s influence on tourists’ experiential value is sorted out. On the other hand, the relationship attribute of host–guest interaction’s activation effect on tourists’ personal norms is identified. Based on social exchange theory and normative activation theory, a structural equation model was established to depict the transmission mechanism from host–guest interaction to tourists’ pro-environment behavior. The data were collected from tourists in Taishan National Forest Park (n = 499). The results indicated that host–guest interaction quality activated tourists’ personal norms through consequence awareness, thus promoting tourists’ pro-environment behavior. Meanwhile, the quality of host–guest interaction positively influenced tourists’ pro-environment behavior through emotional experience value. Host–guest interaction quantity promoted tourists’ pro-environment behavior by activating personal norms through responsibility ascription. In addition, although frequent host–guest interactions can enhance the social experience and functional experience value of tourists, the latter two cannot stimulate tourists’ pro-environmental behavior. This study provides practical implications for promoting the sustainable development of national forest parks.

Firms for Sustainable Manufacturing: Understanding the Key Determinants of Pro-environmental Behaviour

This study examines the factors that influence pro-environmental behaviour intention (PEBI) in manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The data were collected from 517 executives and chief technology officers of Korean SMEs and analysed using a comprehensive research model. The model includes variables such as awareness of consequences (ACs), ascription of responsibility (AR), personal norms (PNs), extrinsic motivation (EM), subjective norms (SNs) and realistic values (RVs). The results show significant relationships between these factors and PEBI. In particular, ACs and AR have positive effects on PNs, with AR having a stronger effect. PNs are the most important predictor of PEBI. EM has a positive impact on behaviour intention, while SNs do not have a significant impact. Interestingly, RVs have a negative impact. These findings have practical implications for encouraging pro-environmental behaviour in manufacturing SMEs. Policymakers and business planners should focus on increasing awareness of environmental consequences and individual responsibility to reinforce PNs. Moreover, offering extrinsic rewards and benefits can motivate pro-environmental behaviour in these firms. Understanding these factors can help design targeted strategies for promoting sustainability practices within manufacturing SMEs. By addressing these aspects, businesses can contribute to environmental innovation and sustainable development.

A question of norms and control—factors shaping sustainable energy behavior: a study among various university stakeholders

This paper in the journal Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. presents a study that uses a subgroup approach to investigate which factors, based on the theory of planned behavior, influence energy saving behavior at a medium-sized university in Germany and whether there are differences between the subgroups. The focus will be on the largest groups within the university (i.e., academic staff, administrative/technical staff and students). For this purpose, multi-group SEM is calculated in two independent cross-sectional samples (t1: N = 1714, t2: N = 1289) collected 2.5 years apart. In addition, a third, independent longitudinal sample (N = 189) was used to examine the causal effects of the theoretical model.The empirical findings partially reveal that injunctive social norms significantly predicted personal norms across subgroups and in both cross-sectional samples, while descriptive social norms negatively influenced personal norms only among the subgroup students. Personal norms and perceived behavioral control positively influenced energy-saving intentions across all subgroups in both cross-sectional samples. Regarding actual behavior, energy-saving intentions significantly predicted behavior across groups and time. The results are largely confirmed in the longitudinal sample. The findings show that subgroup analyzes in the organizational context can provide additional insights, but that overall the context of the organization seems to be significant for all organizational members regardless of the subgroup, as predominantly similar relationships were found between the variables under consideration in three independent samples.

Exploring generation Z consumers’ purchase intention towards green products during the COVID-19 pandemic in China

China's Generation Z consumers are gradually developing an awareness of environmental issues and a willingness to purchase green products. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected various traditional industries worldwide. This study aims to explore the factors that influence the purchase intention of green products among Chinese Generation Z consumers after the pandemic. This research utilizes the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a theoretical framework to discuss the effects of epistemic factors including attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control as well as non-cognitive factors including anticipated positive emotion and personal moral norms on Generation Z consumers’ purchase intention of green products under the circumstance of COVID-19 pandemic. We collected primary data from 259 Chinese Generation Z consumers through an online questionnaire collection platform. This research shows that anticipated positive emotion is the most important affecting factor of Chinese Generation Z consumers’ green product purchase intention under the circumstance of COVID-19 pandemic, followed by perceived behavioural control, personal moral norm, attitude, and subjective norm, respectively.

Towards sustainable consumption: Factors influencing energy-efficient appliance adoption in haze-affected environments

Global-scale energy use has contributed to worldwide environmental issues, including climate change, global warming, and air and haze pollution. Home appliances are commonly used products that consume a lot of energy. This study aims to empirically assess the factors that lead to pro-environmental consumer behavior in households under the influence of haze pollution. The relationship among the variables of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) (attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, purchase intention, and purchase behavior), the norm activation model (NAM) (ascription of responsibility, awareness of consequences, personal norms), and additional psychological variables such as green trust and environmental concern has been examined. In addition, the moderating role of herd mentality on consumer purchasing has also been assessed. A non-probability-based purposive sampling technique has been employed to gather data from 429 respondents. The results from PLS-SEM show that haze pollution stimulates the usage of energy-saving appliances. Environmental concern positively affects consumers' intentions to purchase energy-efficient household appliances, and green trust positively influences environmental concern. Subjective norms, attitudes, perceived consumer effectiveness, and environmental concern shape purchase intention. Personal norms are influenced by the awareness of consequences and the ascription of responsibility. The influence of these factors on consumers' pro-environmental behavior is evident in purchasing energy-efficient household appliances to minimize haze and mitigate associated environmental issues. This study proposes strategies to persuade individuals to purchase energy-efficient household equipment based on the empirical findings.

A comparative study of factors influencing residents' waste sorting behavior in urban and rural areas of China

Extensive research has been conducted on the waste sorting behavior (WSB) of residents, while it is the first time that the classification behavior of urban and rural residents is compared under the same theoretical framework in China. Based on questionnaire data from 478 urban and rural residents, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to investigate the internal factors influencing the WSB by integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Norm Activation Model (NAM). Hierarchical regression analysis was utilized to investigate the moderating effect of external factors on the residents' intentions and behavior. The results show that the degree of deviation between rural residents' intentions and behavior is much larger than that of urban residents. Personal norms are the key factors affecting urban residents' waste sorting. In contrast, for rural residents, attitude is the most critical factor, but the influence of subjective norms is insignificant. In addition, we found that policy restraints and economic incentives significantly moderate the association between urban residents' sorting intention and behavior, with economic incentives having a better effect than policy restraints. In contrast, the impact of policy restraints on rural residents is better than that of urban areas. However, the moderating effect of economic incentives is insignificant for rural residents. The findings furnish the government with meaningful strategies to narrow the urban-rural waste management gap.

Perception towards reducing natural gas consumption and imports in Europe: A theoretical and empirical investigation

The European energy system is undergoing a drastic change, focusing on reducing natural gas consumption and import. European households, which are responsible for 25 % of final energy consumption, mainly based on natural gas, could play a significant role in such a transition. Therefore, the study aims to understand the perception towards natural gas consumption reduction and imports. An online questionnaire was designed based on an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour, which 257 highly educated respondents filled out. The results delineated the respondents' positive perception of reducing natural gas consumption. Specific attributes (i.e., environmental concerns, national sustainable and efficient energy system, and national energy independence) and personal moral norms (i.e., moral responsibility) significantly impact the willingness and effort to reduce natural gas consumption. The lack of control is the largest perceived control behaviour in reducing the respondents' natural gas consumption compared to available knowledge and affordability. Finally, the respondents care significantly and want to know about natural gas import sources, and they are highly against natural gas imports from Russia, the United States, the Middle Eastern, and Arab countries. Based on the insights, the study provides detailed recommendations. The study provides concrete recommendations for policy-makers to include environmental, humanitarian and energy-independence concerns in their decision-making processes related to natural gas imports and consumption. It also emphasises informing and involving individual households in such decision-making processes.

Psychogenic Hyperphagia: Excessive Eating as Stereotypy in a Patient with Catatonia.

Catatonia is a complex syndrome with unique cognitive, psychomotor, and mood features. Mannerisms and stereotypies are catatonic signs that have been extensively observed and described in the literature, mostly in the context of movements or motor acts. Stereotypies are commonly described as repetitive psychomotor or verbal acts with the abnormality not inherent in the act but in its frequency. Mannerisms, like stereotypies, are repetitive psychomotor or verbal acts, but they are fundamentally odd in nature. Recently, several reports have described these phenomena in the context of complex behaviors, such as eating and drinking. Identification and appreciation of personal and cultural norms, in addition to a careful analysis of behavioral processes and actions, are important tools for clinicians to identify these potentially elusive and often missed patterns of behavior in patients with catatonia. We present the case of a 30-year-old male with a psychiatric history of treatment-resistant, recurrent major depressive disorder with psychotic features who presented to the inpatient psychiatric unit with signs of catatonia, including repeated, purposeless eating. The patient's chart was reviewed, and a literature review was conducted using PubMed with the keywords catatonia, stereotypies, mannerisms, and hyperphagia. The patient, who was diagnosed with catatonia and expressed hyperphagia as a stereotypy, responded to lorazepam. This case shows that hyperphagia may present as a stereotypy in patients with catatonia.