Hi all, I'm actively looking for an answer to this question.
Many of my colleagues I'm working with insist on the idea that in order to adopt a sustainable behaviour, people have to see an real interest in doing something. This interest can be financial, or practical,...
Otherwise (without it) they wouldn't act.
I try to make them understand that people can be motivated by other things like : being like the others in a group, doing like family, etc... but I'm afraid to not be convincing enough.
What would be the best answer to them?
I look (very much) forward to your reply !
Thank you very much for your help,
Anne-Sophie
Anne-Sophie Leibenguth
Student in Msc
University of Edinburgh
Scotland
Behave by interest.
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Anne-Sophie,
Do you have any of Doug McKenzie-Mohr's books? He cites many psychological studies that would help back your point.
Caitlin
Caitlin Newman
Solid Waste Education and Outreach
Google "candid camera elevator".
Mark Stumpf-Allen
Compost Programs Coordinator
City of Edmonton
Canada
Hi Anne-Sophie:
You can freely access my book at the cbsm.com site. Simply click on the book link.
Take care. Doug
Doug McKenzie-Mohr
Environmental Psychologist
McKenzie-Mohr & Associates Inc.
Canada
http://www.cbsm.com
Anne-Sophie, Hi
The understanding of ideas, incentives and barriers, etc. to behaviours including those that may be classed as altruistic is a field that has been largely dismissed in the prevailing realm of neoliberal politics and economics.
A growing acceptance of newer and growing fields of economic and political thought has uncovered notions that accept that degrees of complexity, uncertainty and timeliness are appropriate considerations that render neoliberal frameworks less than satisfactory.
An essential notion is that actors in areas where public goods and common pool resources are in question, actors fear the loss of presently held assets to a much greater extent than they anticipate gaining additional benefits at some future time.
This fear of loss, then, militates against actions that have community benefit in the long term as a result of personal effort (sacrifice) in the immediate.
Food for thought.
Rob Crosthwaite
Australia
...
I think your approach is positive Anne-Sophie, and necessary, but suggest the further benefit can only come by evidencing the change, and gaining recognition of that by seeing both the media and political managers acknowledge the benefits. Marketing the benefits of action to see more sustainable ways in our community, in our society, deliver benefit to all.
What we have in most of the world presently to dominance of a market system, where not all costs are accounted for. Those that are least able to respond are simply labelled losers. We have to take our society beyond this culture, to see our species survive. We have to identify the benefits of greater vibrancy and well being in our world. The market doesn't have sole say over that.
Gary Goland
Australia