دانلود رایگان مقاله اثر فاصله روانی و عمل رفتاری در بازیافت و پایداری

Abstract

Much research has reported an attitude-behaviour gap in ecological behaviours. This research seeks to contribute important insights to this literature through a study that uses construal level theory (CLT) to understand the role and impact of psychological distance in explaining sustainable and recycling behaviours. Using a qualitative approach, the research found that consistency between mental construal and all dimensions of psychological distance was pertinent to recycling and sustainable behaviours. While theoretically CLT suggests there should be consistency across psychological distance dimensions and mental construal, there is limited research that explores all distance dimensions. Further, highlighted was the need for a near distance perspective to move individuals to behavioural action. Contrary to previous research, this served to facilitate rather than inhibit behavioural action. Finally, the results suggest that where sustainable behaviours are facilitated and/or required engagement in behaviour can be increased. These findings are important for public policy by highlighting the need to represent recycling behaviour in terms of temporal, spatial, social and hypothetical closeness.

5. Discussion and conclusions

5.1. Theoretical implications The current research presents theoretical contributions in three key areas. Firstly, the current research found that those participants who engaged in sustainable and recycling behaviours experienced consistency between mental construal and all dimensions of psychological distance. Their recycling and sustainable behaviours were experienced as proximal. Where inconsistency was experienced across psychological distance and construal level or where abstract construal was experienced, in both sustainable and recycling behaviours, engagement in these behaviours did not occur at all or in keeping with local authority requirements (see Fig. 1A). For example, for an individual to use public transport they must experience public transport as concrete and they must experience public transport as proximal in terms of temporal, spatial, social and hypothetical distance. Such a proximal focus will allow individuals to focus on the feasibility of carrying out the behaviour. Previous research exploring moral behaviours, including sustainability and recycling, found that such choices increased with temporal distance and abstract construal (Agerstrom€ & Bjorklund, € 2009a, b). What this previous research did not explore was psychological distance beyond temporal distance. The current research observed a high number of participants who experienced abstract mental construal and far temporal distance in terms of sustainable behaviours, however, behavioural choice did not follow (see Table 3). As highlighted in our findings, it is wholly possible to view sustainability as abstract, to view it as temporally far but to experience one or more other dimension of psychological distance as near. Inconsistency, therefore, between aspects of psychological distance suggests contradictory identifications between construal and distant dimensions potentially create conflicting behavioural associations (Fujita et al., 2008; Liberman et al., 2007). Indeed, reasons cited for the well-documented attitude-behaviour gap in ethical/sustainable contexts centre on multiple and competing identities and demands that impede and immobilise behaviour (e.g., Carrington, Zwick, & Neville, 2016; Cherrier, Black, & Lee, 2011). It is these very inconsistencies in mental representations and experiences that the current research reveals as direct barriers to behaviour. Further, such inconsistency between abstract mental construal and near psychological distance serves to expose individuals to near distant influences creating tension between distal and proximal perspectives (Agerstrom€ & Bjorklund, 2009a € ) and producing a lack of fit and, thus, confidence in decision outcomes (Camacho et al., 2003; Higgins, 2000; Higgins, Idson, Freitas, Spiegel, & Molden, 2003).