Pahl, S., Harris, P.R., Todd, H.A. et al. (1 more author) (2005) Comparative optimism for environmental risks. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25 (1). pp. 1-11. ISSN 0272-4944
Abstract
The present research tested whether people display comparative optimism for environmental risks and the link between comparative optimism and pro-environmental activity. Study I found comparative optimism for water pollution, air pollution and nuclear energy in normal conditions, but not when participants were asked to think about pollution arising from a hypothetical accident. In Study 2, both environmental activists and nonactivists displayed comparative optimism for a list of 22 environmental risks. However, comparative optimism was not associated with self-reported pro-environmental behaviour. Instead, absolute perceived risk, ecological attitude and social value orientation were associated with behaviour. Furthermore, when controlling for group membership, the effect of absolute risk disappeared. These findings are used to address ways in which pro-environmental behaviour might be encouraged. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Metadata
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| Keywords: | APPRAISAL INVENTORY EAI; UNREALISTIC OPTIMISM; PERCEIVED VULNERABILITY; SELF; BIAS; SCALE; PERCEPTIONS; EARTHQUAKE; BEHAVIOR; EVENTS |
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| Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
| Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Psychology (Sheffield) |
| Depositing User: | Miss Anthea Tucker |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Oct 2009 09:04 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Oct 2009 09:04 |
| Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2004.12.004 |
| Status: | Published |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2004.12.004 |
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
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