Psychological Dimensions of Environmental Behavior
Project Background
Lifestyles are of the root of many of today's most pressing environmental challenges. Shifts in where we live, how move around, what we eat, and how we earn a living have dramatically altered the natural environment. The E&B Lab has several ongoing projects that seek to understand the social, contextual, and psychological forces that drive environmentally significant behavior. We also explore opportunities to encourage conservation and efficiency through changes in behavior or policy support.
Some examples of research questions we are currently pursuing in this area:
Project Background
Lifestyles are of the root of many of today's most pressing environmental challenges. Shifts in where we live, how move around, what we eat, and how we earn a living have dramatically altered the natural environment. The E&B Lab has several ongoing projects that seek to understand the social, contextual, and psychological forces that drive environmentally significant behavior. We also explore opportunities to encourage conservation and efficiency through changes in behavior or policy support.
Some examples of research questions we are currently pursuing in this area:
- How do cultural representations of animals shape human-wildlife interactions?
- How does technology shape our emotional connections to the environment?
- What happens after we successfully nudge a person to adopt a green behavior? When and why do green behaviors lead to more sustainable lifestyle changes vs. rebound effects?
Publications
Eby, B., Carrico, AR, & Truelove, HB (2019). The influence of environmental identity labeling on the uptake of pro-environmental behaviors. Climatic Change, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-019-02501-x
Maki, A., Carrico, A.R., Raimi, K.T., Truelove, H.B., Araujo, B., Yeung, K.L. (2019). Meta-analysis of pro-environmental spillover. Nature Sustainability, 2, 307-315.
Carrico, A.R., Raimi, K.T., Truelove, H.B., Eby, B. (2018). Putting your money where your mouth is: An experimental test of pro-environmental spillover from reducing meat consumption to monetary donations. Environment and Behavior, 50(7), 723-748.
Carrico, A.R., Raja, U., Fraser, J.C., Vandenbergh, M.P. (2018). Household and Block Level Influences on Residential Fertilizer Use. Landscape and Urban Planning, 178, 60-68.
Yoeli, E., Budescu, D.V., Carrico, A.R., Delmas, M.A., DeShazo, J.R. (2017). Behavioral science tools for energy and environmental policy. Behavioral Science and Policy Association, 3(1), 68-79.
Maki, A., Carrico, A.R., Vandenbergh, M.P. (forthcoming). Doing the wrong things for the right reasons: How Environmental Misinformation Affects Environmental Behavior in: B.G. Southwell, E.A. Thorson, and L. Sheble (Eds.), Misinformation and Mass Audiences. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.
Truelove, H.B., Yeung, K.L., Carrico, A.R., Gillis, A.J., & Raimi, K. T. (2016). From plastic bottle recycling to policy support: An experimental test of pro-environmental behavior spillover. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 46, 55 - 66.
Raimi, K.T. & Carrico, A.R. (2016). Understanding and beliefs about smart energy technology. Energy Research & Social Science, 12, 68-74.
Clayton, S., Devine-Wright, P. Swim, J., Bonnes, M., Steg, L. Whitmarsh, L. Carrico A.R. (2016). Expanding the role for psychology in addressing environmental challenges. American Psychologist, 71(3), 199-215. [full text]
Clayton, S., Carrico, A.R., Steg, L., Swim, J., Bonnes, M., Devine-Wright, P. (2017). Psychologists and the problem of population growth: Reply to Bridgeman. American Psychologist, 72(4), 388-389.
Clayton, S., Devine-Wright, P., Stern, P., Whitmarsh, L., Carrico, A.R., Steg, L., Swim, J., Bonnes, M. (2015). Psychological research and global climate change. Nature Climate Change, 5, 640-646. [full text]
Carrico, A.R., Vandenbergh, M.P., Stern, P.C., Dietz, T. (2015). US climate policy needs behavioural science. Nature Climate Change, 5, 177 – 179.
Carrico, A.R., Truelove, H.B., Vandenbergh, M.P., Dana, D. (2015). Does learning about climate change adaptation change support for mitigation? Journal of Environmental Psychology, 41, 19-29.
Truelove, H.B.^, Carrico, A.R.^, Weber, E., Raimi, K.T., Vandenbergh, M.P., Gerrard, M. (2014). Positive and negative spillover of pro-environmental behavior. Global Environmental Change, 29, 127-138.
Carrico, A.R., Fraser, J., Bazuin, J.T. (2012). Green with envy: Psychological and social predictors of lawn fertilizer application, Environment and Behavior, 45, 427-454. DOI: 10.1177/0013916511434637
Carrico, A. R., Riemer, M. (2011) Motivating energy conservation in the workplace: An evaluation of the use of group-level feedback and peer education. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31(1), 1 – 13.
Vandenbergh, M.P., Carrico, A.R., Bressman, L.S. (2011). Regulation in the behavioral era. Minnesota Law Review, 95(3), 715 – 781.
Carrico, A.R., Vandenbergh, M.P., Stern, P.C., Gardner, G.T., Dietz, T., Gilligan, J.M. (2011). Energy and climate change: Key lessons for implementing the behavioral wedge. Journal of Energy and Environmental Law, Winter, 61 – 67.
Carrico, A. R., Padgett, P., Vandenbergh, M. P., Gilligan, J. & Wallston, K. A. (2009). Costly myths: An analysis of idling beliefs and behavior in personal motor vehicles. Energy Policy, 37, 2881 – 2888.
Eby, B., Carrico, AR, & Truelove, HB (2019). The influence of environmental identity labeling on the uptake of pro-environmental behaviors. Climatic Change, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-019-02501-x
Maki, A., Carrico, A.R., Raimi, K.T., Truelove, H.B., Araujo, B., Yeung, K.L. (2019). Meta-analysis of pro-environmental spillover. Nature Sustainability, 2, 307-315.
Carrico, A.R., Raimi, K.T., Truelove, H.B., Eby, B. (2018). Putting your money where your mouth is: An experimental test of pro-environmental spillover from reducing meat consumption to monetary donations. Environment and Behavior, 50(7), 723-748.
Carrico, A.R., Raja, U., Fraser, J.C., Vandenbergh, M.P. (2018). Household and Block Level Influences on Residential Fertilizer Use. Landscape and Urban Planning, 178, 60-68.
Yoeli, E., Budescu, D.V., Carrico, A.R., Delmas, M.A., DeShazo, J.R. (2017). Behavioral science tools for energy and environmental policy. Behavioral Science and Policy Association, 3(1), 68-79.
Maki, A., Carrico, A.R., Vandenbergh, M.P. (forthcoming). Doing the wrong things for the right reasons: How Environmental Misinformation Affects Environmental Behavior in: B.G. Southwell, E.A. Thorson, and L. Sheble (Eds.), Misinformation and Mass Audiences. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.
Truelove, H.B., Yeung, K.L., Carrico, A.R., Gillis, A.J., & Raimi, K. T. (2016). From plastic bottle recycling to policy support: An experimental test of pro-environmental behavior spillover. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 46, 55 - 66.
Raimi, K.T. & Carrico, A.R. (2016). Understanding and beliefs about smart energy technology. Energy Research & Social Science, 12, 68-74.
Clayton, S., Devine-Wright, P. Swim, J., Bonnes, M., Steg, L. Whitmarsh, L. Carrico A.R. (2016). Expanding the role for psychology in addressing environmental challenges. American Psychologist, 71(3), 199-215. [full text]
Clayton, S., Carrico, A.R., Steg, L., Swim, J., Bonnes, M., Devine-Wright, P. (2017). Psychologists and the problem of population growth: Reply to Bridgeman. American Psychologist, 72(4), 388-389.
Clayton, S., Devine-Wright, P., Stern, P., Whitmarsh, L., Carrico, A.R., Steg, L., Swim, J., Bonnes, M. (2015). Psychological research and global climate change. Nature Climate Change, 5, 640-646. [full text]
Carrico, A.R., Vandenbergh, M.P., Stern, P.C., Dietz, T. (2015). US climate policy needs behavioural science. Nature Climate Change, 5, 177 – 179.
Carrico, A.R., Truelove, H.B., Vandenbergh, M.P., Dana, D. (2015). Does learning about climate change adaptation change support for mitigation? Journal of Environmental Psychology, 41, 19-29.
Truelove, H.B.^, Carrico, A.R.^, Weber, E., Raimi, K.T., Vandenbergh, M.P., Gerrard, M. (2014). Positive and negative spillover of pro-environmental behavior. Global Environmental Change, 29, 127-138.
Carrico, A.R., Fraser, J., Bazuin, J.T. (2012). Green with envy: Psychological and social predictors of lawn fertilizer application, Environment and Behavior, 45, 427-454. DOI: 10.1177/0013916511434637
Carrico, A. R., Riemer, M. (2011) Motivating energy conservation in the workplace: An evaluation of the use of group-level feedback and peer education. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31(1), 1 – 13.
Vandenbergh, M.P., Carrico, A.R., Bressman, L.S. (2011). Regulation in the behavioral era. Minnesota Law Review, 95(3), 715 – 781.
Carrico, A.R., Vandenbergh, M.P., Stern, P.C., Gardner, G.T., Dietz, T., Gilligan, J.M. (2011). Energy and climate change: Key lessons for implementing the behavioral wedge. Journal of Energy and Environmental Law, Winter, 61 – 67.
Carrico, A. R., Padgett, P., Vandenbergh, M. P., Gilligan, J. & Wallston, K. A. (2009). Costly myths: An analysis of idling beliefs and behavior in personal motor vehicles. Energy Policy, 37, 2881 – 2888.
Funding
- 2017 – 2018 Center for Science and Technology Policy Research Seed Grant. Responses to Genetically Modified Crops in Boulder County. Investigators: Amanda Carrico PI), Peter Newton, and Nathan Lee-Ammons. Amount awarded: $6,000.
- 2015 – 2016 CU School of Environment and Sustainability. Loving it to Death? Measuring and Managing for the Human Carrying Capacity of Open Space Lands. Investigators: Dan Doak (PI), Amanda Carrico, and Stacey Schulte Amount awarded: $20,000.
- 2013 – 2016 National Science Foundation: Rebound vs. Gateway Effects of Pro-Environmental Behavior (NSF-SES 1325660). Investigators: Amanda Carrico (PI), Heather Truelove, Elke Weber, Mike Vandenbergh, and Mike Gerrard. Amount awarded: $497,949.