Social Norms & Environmental Behavior

This lecture explores the influence of social norms on environmental behavior, focusing on the constructive, destructive, and reconstructive power of norms. It delves into the impact of descriptive and injunctive norms on energy consumption, highlighting the 'boomerang' effect and the counterbalancing role of injunctive norms. Additionally, it discusses the role of personal norms in pro-environmental behavior change interventions, emphasizing the interplay between static and dynamic social norms. The lecture also examines the motivational force of guilt, specifically eco-guilt, in driving eco-friendly behavior. Furthermore, it analyzes the emotional responses triggered by climate change and their potential to motivate climate action, drawing comparisons between scientists' and students' attitudes. The historical evolution of human-nature relationships, from prehistoric times to the Enlightenment era, is also discussed.