Changing behaviour: Increasing the effectiveness of workplace interventions in creating pro‐environmental behaviour change

TLDR

There is a great deal of research outlining interventions to increase pro‑environmental behaviour, many of which are aimed at employees. Our model aims to provide actionable knowledge that extends our understanding of the effectiveness of workplace interventions designed to increase green organisational behaviour. Through integration of experimental social psychology, organisational psychology, organisational behaviour and environmental psychology, we propose that the efficacy, attractiveness, self‑concordance, goal conflict, and perceived completion of an intervention‑related goal determine the level and type of behaviour change. However, to date the results for these have not lived up to their initial promise. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Summary There is a great deal of research outlining interventions to increase pro‐environmental behaviour, many of which are aimed at employees. However, to date the results for these have not lived up to their initial promise. Instead of offering another intervention, we propose a model which identifies psychological conditions under which these interventions are most likely to succeed. Through the integration of previously separate literatures from experimental social psychology, organisational psychology, organisational behaviour and environmental psychology, we suggest that the degree to which the intervention‐related goal is efficacious and attractive, self‐concordant, in conflict with other goals, and perceived to be completed will affect the level and type of behaviour change. Our model aims to provide actionable knowledge that extends our understanding of the effectiveness of workplace interventions designed to increase green organisational behaviour. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.