Breaking Bad: Existential Threat Decreases Pro-Environmental Behavior. Issue 3 (4th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buttlar, Benjamin; Latz, Marc; Walther, Eva
• Is Part Of: Basic and applied social psychology. Volume 39:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 153
• Page End: 166
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04
• Subjects: Social psychology -- Periodicals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.1080/01973533.2017.1296360
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0197-3533

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Why is it that people do not change their behavior in the face of global threats? We hypothesized that when people who have been encouraged to engage in pro-environmental behavior are threatened, they fall back into their (bad) habits instead of exhibiting behavioral change; existential threats may thereby counteract pro-environmental norms. We tested this hypothesis in two field studies in which participants were encouraged to reduce paper use. Although the requests initially resulted in decreased paper use, this pro-environmental behavior ceased when an existential threat was induced. We discuss theoretical and practical implications for social psychology theorizing and behavioral change.