Graduate Exit Seminar - Naseem Dillman-Hasso

Plan to join Naseem Dillman-Hasso's graduate exit seminar on April 22, 2026, at 10:00 am at Kottman Hall 460 or via Zoom. Naseem will present, "Understanding and Promoting Pro-Environmental Behavior Through Regulatory Scope"

Abstract: Understanding and promoting persistent pro-environmental behavior change is necessary to address climate change. This dissertation approaches the issue through applying a self-control and regulatory scope lens: environmental behaviors are instances of self-control conflicts, where individuals choose between mutually exclusive decisions that vary with respect to psychological distance (e.g., prioritizing immediate comfort over long-term sustainability). I argue that sustainable behavior is driven by what individuals consider when making decisions. As scope expands (vs. contracts), individuals take into account a wider (vs. narrower) range of considerations, including those that are more (vs. less) psychologically distant, potentially promoting pro-environmental actions. These findings provide clear and practical guidance for future intervention planning, clarify existing mixed results for interventions targeting the psychological distance of climate change, and advance a novel theoretical framework for understanding behavior change.

Advisors: Dr. Robyn Wilson and Dr. Nicole Sintov