“We aren’t idlers”: Using subjective group dynamics to promote prosocial driver behavior at long-wait stops

Player, A, Abrams, D, Van de Vyver, J , Meleady, R, Leite, A.C., Randsley de Moura, G and Hopthrow, T (2018) “We aren’t idlers”: Using subjective group dynamics to promote prosocial driver behavior at long-wait stops. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 48 (11). pp. 643-648. ISSN 1559-1816

Full content URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12554

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Item Type:Article
Item Status:Live Archive

Abstract

Idling engines are a substantial air pollutant which contribute to many health and environmental problems. In this field experiment (N = 419) we use the subjective group dynamics framework to test ways of motivating car drivers to turn off idle engines at a long wait stop where the majority leave their engines idling. One of three normative messages (descriptive norm, in-group prescriptive deviance, outgroup prescriptive deviance) was displayed when barriers were down at a busy railway level-crossing. Compared to the baseline, normative messages increased the proportion of drivers that turned off their engines. Consistent with subjective group dynamics theory, the most effective approach was to highlight instances of in-group prescriptive deviance (47% stopped idling, compared with 28% in the baseline). Implications for health and environmental outcomes and future research are discussed.

Additional Information:This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Player, A., et al. (2018). “We aren’t idlers”: Using subjective group dynamics to promote prosocial driver behaviour at long-wait stops. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, which will be/has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15591816. This article may be used for noncommercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Keywords:social norms, deviance, engine emissions, air quality, pro-environmental behavior, subjective group dynamics
Subjects:C Biological Sciences > C880 Social Psychology
C Biological Sciences > C810 Applied Psychology
C Biological Sciences > C800 Psychology
Divisions:College of Social Science > School of Psychology
ID Code:32630
Deposited On:16 Jul 2018 08:14

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