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Self-affirmation theory and pro-environmental behaviour: promoting a reduction in household food waste

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 17:18 authored by Ella Graham-Rowe, Donna JessopDonna Jessop, Paul Sparks
Household food waste has a significant detrimental impact on the environment. However, despite national campaigns, people in high income countries throw away a sizeable proportion of the food they purchase. The present study investigated whether self-affirmation could promote openness to information detailing the negative consequences of household food waste, with a particular focus on fruit and vegetable waste. Participants (N = 362) completed either a standard self-affirmation manipulation, an integrated self-affirmation manipulation or a control task before reading the information and completing a series of measures assessing cognitive antecedents of behaviour. Household fruit and vegetable waste was self-reported one-week later. Compared to their non-affirmed counterparts, participants in the standard self-affirmation condition wasted less fruit and vegetables at follow-up. The findings suggest that self-affirmation has the potential to promote engagement with pro-environmental behaviour. Research should continue to explore how to integrate self-affirmation successfully within pro-environmental campaigns.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Journal of Environmental Psychology

ISSN

0272-4944

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

62

Page range

124-132

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2019-03-26

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2021-02-18

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2019-03-25

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