Most People Think They Are More Pro-Environmental than Others: A Demonstration of the Better-than-Average Effect in Perceived Pro-Environmental Behavioral Engagement. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bergquist, Magnus
• Is Part Of: Basic and applied social psychology. Volume 42:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 50
• Page End: 61
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Social psychology -- Periodicals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.1080/01973533.2019.1689364
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0197-3533

Abstract

Abstract: People tend to perceive themselves as better than average in various contexts. In this article I test if the better-than-average effect (BTAE) also holds for pro-environmental behavioral engagement. Experiment 1 supported that the majority of participants report to be more pro-environmental than others, using a large representative sample. Experiment 2 validated these findings in 3 additional cultures (United States, United Kingdom, and India) and showed that BTAE held for both abstract (other Americans) and concrete (my friends) comparisons. Experiment 3 found that participants overestimated both how "much" and how "often" they engage in pro-environmental actions. Finally, Experiment 4 found weak support for the hypothesis that inducing BTAE are inhibiting future pro-environmental behaviors.