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Recycling today, sustainability tomorrow: Effects of psychological distance on behavioural practice

Author

Listed:
  • Marie Schill

    (REGARDS - Recherches en Économie Gestion AgroRessources Durabilité Santé- EA 6292 - URCA - Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne - MSH-URCA - Maison des Sciences Humaines de Champagne-Ardenne - URCA - Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne)

  • Deirdre Shaw

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Marie Schill & Deirdre Shaw, 2016. "Recycling today, sustainability tomorrow: Effects of psychological distance on behavioural practice," Post-Print hal-02054322, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02054322
    as

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Vicky-Lauren Bekoum Essokolo & Elisabeth Robinot, 2022. "«Let’s Go Deep into the Game to Save Our Planet!» How an Immersive and Educational Video Game Reduces Psychological Distance and Raises Awareness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-24, May.
    2. Jesús Manuel López-Bonilla & María Del Carmen Reyes-Rodríguez & Luis Miguel López-Bonilla, 2018. "The Environmental Attitudes and Behaviours of European Golf Tourists," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Wang, Xiaozhen & Zheng, Ying & Jiang, Zihao & Tao, Ziyang, 2021. "Influence mechanism of subsidy policy on household photovoltaic purchase intention under an urban-rural divide in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    4. Melissa Nursey-Bray & Robert Palmer & Bridie Meyer-Mclean & Thomas Wanner & Cris Birzer, 2019. "The Fear of Not Flying: Achieving Sustainable Academic Plane Travel in Higher Education Based on Insights from South Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-22, May.
    5. Han, Nah Ray & Baek, Tae Hyun & Yoon, Sukki & Kim, Yeonshin, 2019. "Is that coffee mug smiling at me? How anthropomorphism impacts the effectiveness of desirability vs. feasibility appeals in sustainability advertising," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 352-361.
    6. Craig, C.A. & Feng, S. & Gilbertz, S., 2019. "Water crisis, drought, and climate change in the southeast United States," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    7. Yuanxin Zhang & Liujun Xu & Wei Wu & Zaijing Gong & Hashem Izadi Moud & Zhihua Luo, 2021. "Ascertaining the Inconsistency of AEC Students’ Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Sustainability by Mixed Methods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-20, December.
    8. David V. Boivin & Olivier Boiral, 2022. "So Close, Yet So Far Away: Exploring the Role of Psychological Distance from Climate Change on Corporate Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.
    9. Hee Sun Park & Ezgi Ulusoy & Soe Yoon Choi & Hye Eun Lee, 2020. "Temporal Distance and Descriptive Norms on Environmental Behaviors: A Cross-Cultural Examination of Construal-Level Theory," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440209, March.
    10. Jesús Manuel López-Bonilla & María del Carmen Reyes-Rodríguez & Luis Miguel López-Bonilla, 2019. "Interactions and Relationships between Personal Factors in Pro-Environmental Golf Tourist Behaviour: A Gender Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, December.
    11. Müller, Monika & Huber, Christian & Messner, Martin, 2019. "Meaningful work at a distance: A case study in a hospital," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 719-729.
    12. Andrew Mzembe, 2021. "The psychological distance and construal level perspectives of sustainable value creation in SMEs," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 465-478, March.

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