Dissonance and Commitment: Comparison of Two Ways of Intervention to Reduce Energy Resources Within a Territorial Administration
Lopez, A., Lassarre, D., & Rateau, P. (2010). Dissonance and commitment: Comparison of two ways of intervention to reduce energy resources within a territorial administration [Dissonance et engagement : comparaison de deux voies d'intervention visant à réduire les ressources énergétiques au sein d'une collectivité territoriale]. Pratiques Psychologiques. Article in Press.
This Action Research was ordered by the Energy Department's head of a southern France local authority who wanted to reduce civil servant's overconsumption behaviors in public swimming pools. The aim was to compare two methods coming from psychosocial theories: cognitive dissonance implemented by induced hypocrisy paradigm, and commitment implemented by submission without pressure paradigm. Both methods and a "classical" condition, were assigned to three independent groups of swimming pool employees (n = 21). The processes targeted the level of behavioral intentions and the effective behavioral change, as dependant variables. These elements were measured through the type of behavioral intention, and the swimming-pools' consumption bills. Results show that induced hypocrisy reveals a higher behavioral intention's level than a classical condition, whereas the effective behavioral change is higher in the commitment condition. Moreover, we can see a decisive role of context's organizational characteristics beyond the experimental variables induction. Theoretical and managerial consequences of the results are discussed relatively to the methodological limits enforced by the characteristics of the field.
