Do identity or guilt-based appeals lead to environmental spillover effects?
Understanding how and when an initial pro-environmental behavior (PEB1) may spill over to increase or decrease later PEBs can contribute to the creation of more effective PEB interventions. This study investigated PEB spillover in a novel way by examining whether a prior PEB reminder that elicits id...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Current Research in Environmental Sustainability |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049025000179 |
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| author | Heather Barnes Truelove Kam Leung Yeung Amanda R. Carrico Ash J. Gillis |
| author_facet | Heather Barnes Truelove Kam Leung Yeung Amanda R. Carrico Ash J. Gillis |
| author_sort | Heather Barnes Truelove |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding how and when an initial pro-environmental behavior (PEB1) may spill over to increase or decrease later PEBs can contribute to the creation of more effective PEB interventions. This study investigated PEB spillover in a novel way by examining whether a prior PEB reminder that elicits identity would increase the likelihood of positive spillover from PEB1 to PEB2 through an indirect pathway mediated by environmental identity, and whether a reminder that elicits guilt would increase the likelihood of negative PEB spillover mediated through guilt/shame. Student participants (N = 229) completed a longitudinal study where they were exposed to an intervention eliciting guilt, identity, or neither (control conditions) and were asked to use reusable cups for a week. One week later, they were given an opportunity to perform a second observable PEB (agree to write a letter to a political leader advocating for alternative energy). Results provide some evidence for a positive spillover pathway through environmental identity following a guilt intervention but not an identity intervention and no support for an indirect pathway through guilt/shame for any condition. Additionally, the positive identity pathway was evident in the active control group, but not a nonactive control group, raising questions about demand characteristics in PEB spillover studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-92979ef13aa24c00a6d0ea3a1eba5334 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-0490 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Research in Environmental Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-92979ef13aa24c00a6d0ea3a1eba53342025-08-20T01:51:20ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Environmental Sustainability2666-04902025-01-01910029410.1016/j.crsust.2025.100294Do identity or guilt-based appeals lead to environmental spillover effects?Heather Barnes Truelove0Kam Leung Yeung1Amanda R. Carrico2Ash J. Gillis3Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of North Florida, United States; Institute of Environmental Research and Education, University of North Florida, United States; Correspondence to: Heather Barnes Truelove, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of North Florida, United StatesDepartment of Environmental Studies & Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, Penn State University, United StatesUnderstanding how and when an initial pro-environmental behavior (PEB1) may spill over to increase or decrease later PEBs can contribute to the creation of more effective PEB interventions. This study investigated PEB spillover in a novel way by examining whether a prior PEB reminder that elicits identity would increase the likelihood of positive spillover from PEB1 to PEB2 through an indirect pathway mediated by environmental identity, and whether a reminder that elicits guilt would increase the likelihood of negative PEB spillover mediated through guilt/shame. Student participants (N = 229) completed a longitudinal study where they were exposed to an intervention eliciting guilt, identity, or neither (control conditions) and were asked to use reusable cups for a week. One week later, they were given an opportunity to perform a second observable PEB (agree to write a letter to a political leader advocating for alternative energy). Results provide some evidence for a positive spillover pathway through environmental identity following a guilt intervention but not an identity intervention and no support for an indirect pathway through guilt/shame for any condition. Additionally, the positive identity pathway was evident in the active control group, but not a nonactive control group, raising questions about demand characteristics in PEB spillover studies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049025000179Pro-environmental behaviorSpilloverMoral licensingIdentityGuilt |
| spellingShingle | Heather Barnes Truelove Kam Leung Yeung Amanda R. Carrico Ash J. Gillis Do identity or guilt-based appeals lead to environmental spillover effects? Current Research in Environmental Sustainability Pro-environmental behavior Spillover Moral licensing Identity Guilt |
| title | Do identity or guilt-based appeals lead to environmental spillover effects? |
| title_full | Do identity or guilt-based appeals lead to environmental spillover effects? |
| title_fullStr | Do identity or guilt-based appeals lead to environmental spillover effects? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do identity or guilt-based appeals lead to environmental spillover effects? |
| title_short | Do identity or guilt-based appeals lead to environmental spillover effects? |
| title_sort | do identity or guilt based appeals lead to environmental spillover effects |
| topic | Pro-environmental behavior Spillover Moral licensing Identity Guilt |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666049025000179 |
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