Graduate Exit Seminar - Logan Hobbs

Plan to join Logan Hobbs's graduate exit seminar on April 26, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. in Kottman Hall 245 or via Zoom. Logan will present, "The Roles of Affective Forecasting, Environmental Identity, and Behavioral Familiarity in Decisions Related to Pro-Environmental Behaviors."

Abstract:
The contributions of human behavior to global climate change are well-established. As this trend continues, it is imperative that we find new ways to encourage more sustainable behaviors so as to lessen our collective impact on the environment. Because of this, there has been much research conducted regarding ways to encourage different pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). While it is important to research these behaviors themselves, it is also pertinent to investigate the antecedents of these behaviors: in order to better increase engagement in PEBs, it is necessary to first understand the various personal and situational factors that compel a person to act in an environmental manner. Through two studies, we have investigated how affective forecasts (and the errors that accompany them), environmental identity (EID), and behavioral familiarity influence PEB engagement. In Study 1, we show that higher EID is associated with increased positive affective forecasts for PEB engagement. These positive affective forecasts also significantly and positively mediate the relationship between EID and PEB engagement intentions. In study 2 we find that behavioral familiarity can lead to decreased positive affective forecasts for specific PEBs. Additionally, we did not find that behavioral familiarity increased positive or negative affective forecast accuracy.

Advisor: Dr. Nicole Sintov