Changing simple energy-related consumer cehaviors : how the enactment of intentions is thwarted by acting and non-acting habits

Vries de, Peter and Aarts, Henk and Midden, Cees J.H. (2011) Changing simple energy-related consumer cehaviors : how the enactment of intentions is thwarted by acting and non-acting habits. Environment and Behavior, 43 (5). pp. 612-633. ISSN 0013-9165

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Abstract:	Achieving ambitious CO2 emission reductions require changing mundane consumer behaviors in addition to increasing modern technology’s energy-saving potential. Frequently, energy-related behaviors, however, may occur highly and thus tend to become habitual. On basis of the notion that habits represent automatic reactions to situations, and hence, are hard to control, we examined whether the capability to perform or abstain from performing actions depends on the type of habit established. We tested whether an acting habit (switching off the light upon leaving a room) supports execution of the intention to act (switching it off), but hinders the intention to abstain from acting (not switching it off). Conversely, a habit of not switching off the light (a non-acting habit) is expected to obstruct execution of the intention to switch the light off, but facilitates the intention to not switch it off. Results support these ideas, and underscore the importance of differentiating between habits resulting from frequently acting and frequently not acting.
Item Type:	Article
Copyright:	© 2011 Sage
Faculty:	Management and Governance (SMG)
Research Group:	Psychology of Conflict, Risk & Safety (PCRS)
Link to this item:	http://purl.utwente.nl/publications/80688
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013916510369630
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