W12D3 - Sustainability - PSYC390

Social psychology ad sustainability

Decades of research suggest that human influene has a negative impact on the planet

Changes in behavior and norms are the most powerful way to prevent further destruction

High construals and cognitive distancing (why we are not sustainable)

No future vision

We value avoiding immediate cons over achieving long term pros

Politicized (why we are not more sustainable)

Al Gore ran against Bush (2000) on a climate change platform

Since then it has been adopted as a red vs bue issue

this has been fueled by lobbyist and target ads

Consumerism

Planned obsolescense: Things are not built to last, so you need to buy more often

Fast fashion: low durability and quality constantly pushing for new trends and styles to push more product

Single use items: Plastics especially

Social comparison and consumerism

Making associations between objects and value (self worth)

Hopelessness

Feeling like there is nothing you can do to make a difference, therefore do not behave in a sustainable way

Lack of economical mindsets and skills

No longer teach skills like home ec, cooking, fixing clothes

These skills are good for keeping ourselves sustainable and falling less to consumerism

Adaptive level phenomenon

Yesterday’s luxuries become tomorrow’s necessitiy

Now that I live in a two bedroom apartment, I refuse to go back to a one bedroom or housemates

Nudges

Subtle changes in choice architecture that steer people in specifc directions (leverage often in sustainability efforts)

Defaults

Preset choices that take effects if the person does nothing

Social comparison and attitudes

By leveraging our competitive attitudes and gamifying conservation we can increase the buy in