Document Type

Honors Project - Open Access

Abstract

Combatting environmental issues requires both large-scale and individual change. While many understand that personal pro-environmental behavior (PEB) is necessary, individuals do not always engage in this behavior (Hines, 1986, Goh, 2022). Thus, there is a need to investigate psychological factors which encourage PEB. Prior research suggests competence and outcome efficacy as likely PEB predictors (Bentler, 2023, Lavergne & Pelletier, 2015, Priolo, 2016), while cognitive dissonance has been shown to both encourage and discourage PEB (Bouwman, 2022, Dickerson, 1992, Ehrich & Irwin, 2005). Study 1 investigates the relationship between cognitive dissonance and PEB with competence and outcome efficacy as potential moderators. Results indicate no relationship between cognitive dissonance and PEB, but significant positive relationships between both competence and outcome efficacy and PEB. In Study 2 we further examine competence and outcome efficacy. Prior research supports a connection between outcome efficacy and self-efficacy, although it is unclear how they function together (Bandura, 1977, Kirsch, 1982, Maddux, 1982). Self-efficacy is also extremely similar to competence (Rodgers, 2014), and influences PEB (Choi & Hart, 2021, Lauren, 2016). Thus, we explored the relationships between outcome efficacy and self-efficacy and their influence on PEB. Results indicate a bidirectional relationship between self-efficacy and outcome efficacy, as well as a strong positive relationship between self-efficacy and PEB. Taken together, these findings suggest that feeling capable of behaving sustainably is significantly related to individuals’ intention to do so. This has important implications for behavioral interventions, as it highlights a need for education prior to action.

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