Encouraging others to save water: Using definitions of the self to elucidate a social behavior in Florida, USA
The purpose of this study was to determine how social norms and definitions of the self in terms of individualism-collectivism related to engagement in a public-sphere behavior, encouraging others to conserve water. To achieve this, we examined the public sphere behavior of encouraging others to con...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Cleaner and Responsible Consumption |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666784324000093 |
| _version_ | 1797248291433349120 |
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| author | Laura A. Warner John M. Diaz Dharmendra Kalauni Masoud Yazdanpanah |
| author_facet | Laura A. Warner John M. Diaz Dharmendra Kalauni Masoud Yazdanpanah |
| author_sort | Laura A. Warner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this study was to determine how social norms and definitions of the self in terms of individualism-collectivism related to engagement in a public-sphere behavior, encouraging others to conserve water. To achieve this, we examined the public sphere behavior of encouraging others to conserve water through the lens of the Theory of Planned behavior. Data were collected from residents in Florida, USA. Cluster analysis was used to assign respondents to individual subgroups according to five variables: horizontal individualism index, vertical individualism index, horizontal collectivism index, vertical collectivism index, and behavioral intent. Then, group membership was used as the independent variable to compare subjective and descriptive norms, personal norms, attitude, perceived behavioral control, demographic characteristics, past and current behavior. Of the resulting two clusters, the Interdependent Conservation Advocates had greater identification with collectivism indices and had stronger intent to encourage others to conserve water, as compared to the Unconnected Bystanders. The former subgroup also reported significantly more positive subjective norms, descriptive norms, personal norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control. Perceived behavioral control marked the greatest practical difference between the groups. Interventions targeting this public sphere behavior should foster values of collectivism and increase perceived behavioral control by improving people's ability to encourage others to conserve water. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:35:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f8e8ad2daa7436995ce22c0b9324fab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-7843 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:12:15Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cleaner and Responsible Consumption |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f8e8ad2daa7436995ce22c0b9324fab2024-03-23T06:26:24ZengElsevierCleaner and Responsible Consumption2666-78432024-03-0112100176Encouraging others to save water: Using definitions of the self to elucidate a social behavior in Florida, USALaura A. Warner0John M. Diaz1Dharmendra Kalauni2Masoud Yazdanpanah3University of Florida, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, P.O. Box 110540, Gainesville, Fl 32611, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA.University of Florida, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, 1200 N. Park Rd., Plant City, FL 33563, USAUniversity of Florida, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, P.O. Box 110540, Gainesville, Fl 32611, USADepartment of Agricultural Extension and Education, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, 6341773637, Iran; Advanced System Analysis, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, AustriaThe purpose of this study was to determine how social norms and definitions of the self in terms of individualism-collectivism related to engagement in a public-sphere behavior, encouraging others to conserve water. To achieve this, we examined the public sphere behavior of encouraging others to conserve water through the lens of the Theory of Planned behavior. Data were collected from residents in Florida, USA. Cluster analysis was used to assign respondents to individual subgroups according to five variables: horizontal individualism index, vertical individualism index, horizontal collectivism index, vertical collectivism index, and behavioral intent. Then, group membership was used as the independent variable to compare subjective and descriptive norms, personal norms, attitude, perceived behavioral control, demographic characteristics, past and current behavior. Of the resulting two clusters, the Interdependent Conservation Advocates had greater identification with collectivism indices and had stronger intent to encourage others to conserve water, as compared to the Unconnected Bystanders. The former subgroup also reported significantly more positive subjective norms, descriptive norms, personal norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control. Perceived behavioral control marked the greatest practical difference between the groups. Interventions targeting this public sphere behavior should foster values of collectivism and increase perceived behavioral control by improving people's ability to encourage others to conserve water.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666784324000093CollectivismIndividualismPublic sphere behaviorsSocial normsTheory of Planned Behavior |
| spellingShingle | Laura A. Warner John M. Diaz Dharmendra Kalauni Masoud Yazdanpanah Encouraging others to save water: Using definitions of the self to elucidate a social behavior in Florida, USA Cleaner and Responsible Consumption Collectivism Individualism Public sphere behaviors Social norms Theory of Planned Behavior |
| title | Encouraging others to save water: Using definitions of the self to elucidate a social behavior in Florida, USA |
| title_full | Encouraging others to save water: Using definitions of the self to elucidate a social behavior in Florida, USA |
| title_fullStr | Encouraging others to save water: Using definitions of the self to elucidate a social behavior in Florida, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Encouraging others to save water: Using definitions of the self to elucidate a social behavior in Florida, USA |
| title_short | Encouraging others to save water: Using definitions of the self to elucidate a social behavior in Florida, USA |
| title_sort | encouraging others to save water using definitions of the self to elucidate a social behavior in florida usa |
| topic | Collectivism Individualism Public sphere behaviors Social norms Theory of Planned Behavior |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666784324000093 |
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