Scalable psychological solutions to environmental problems.

Abstract

Current levels of human consumption are unsustainable, and large changes are needed to both mitigate and adapt to environmental problems. In this review, we examine psychological interventions aimed at pro-environmental behavior, focusing on five scalable strategies: nudges, social norms, education, financial incentives, and contact with nature. Research has shown that each of these approaches can effectively promote pro-environmental behavior, although with varying degrees of effectiveness. This review article explores the cognitive processes that underlie these interventions, including heuristics, priming, and self-schemas. We discuss how drawing insights from cognitive science can help to enhance the effectiveness of efforts to promote change and, perhaps even more importantly, how these insights can help to prevent harmful, unintended environmental consequences.