Ellen Matthies

Responsibility and Environment Ecological Norm Orientation and External Factors in the Domain of Travel Mode Choice Behavior

In the domain of travel mode choice behavior, the interaction between ecological norm orientation and the external aspects “fare” and “subway station range” was investigated in an experimental field study. The ecological norm orientation is conceptualized based on the Schwartz theory on altruistic behavior, which is then applied to the environmental context. In a random sample of 160 persons, fare was experimentally manipulated by distributing free public transport tickets, whereas the station range was varied by selecting test participants at different distances from a station. Within the norm activation model, the mobility-specific personal ecological norm proves to be the strongest predictor of travel mode choice as recorded in standardized questionnaires. Reducing the fare by distributing free tickets has a quantitatively similar effect. The results suggest that the “economy-plus-moral” formula best describes the fact that the integrative mechanism (external factor fare plus normative ecological orientation) is the determinant of travel mode choice.

Travel Mode Choice of Women: The Result of Limitation, Ecological Norm, or Weak Habit?

This study examines a model of travel mode choice that is able to explain gender differences in the willingness to reduce car use. By means of a survey among 187 inhabitants of a German city, the hypothesis is tested that women are more willing to reduce car use (intention to reduce car use, preference for public transport, and actual travel mode choice for a given trip) because of their stronger ecological norms and weaker car habits. Results confirm women’s greater willingness and the mediating role of norm and habit in the intention to reduce car use and in the actual travel mode choice but not with regard to the preference rating. The intention to reduce car use is mainly influenced by the ecological norm, whereas actual travel behavior is more strongly influenced by habit.

Living on Polluted Soil Determinants of Stress Symptoms

The study evaluated stress-related complaints of residents living on contaminated ground. Two hundred and fifteen residents of an area that was contaminated by toxics of a former coking plant (toxins were benzo(a)pyrene, dicyclopentadi-ene, benzol, toluol, and xylol) were compared to a control group composed of 200 subjects living in an uncontaminated part of the same city. Data are based on a standardized interview concerning stress-related somatic and psychological symptoms and on exposure parameters. The residents of the contaminated area were also required to report their estimation of danger and trust in the city council’s managing of the redevelopment. The results show that the residents reported significantly more stress symptoms than the control group. In a stepwise regression analysis, symptoms turned out to be best predicted by cognitive variables. Exposure parameters were excluded from the regression model because they provided a comparatively small contribution to the explanation of variance.

Home, Car Use, and Vacation The Structure of Environmentally Significant Individual Behavior

Strategies to promote environmentally friendly behavior among consumers require an understanding of how such behaviors are interrelated. We examined 29 different environmentally significant behaviors, using data from surveys in Germany (n = 967) and in Norway (n = 880). A priori models derived from previous research assuming either environmental behavior as a single factor or as organized by behavioral sectors, degrees of constraint, or frequencies of occurrence did not fit the data. In contrast, a model developed via a bottom-up approach with the German data was supported by the independent, Norwegian sample. This model can integrate several theoretical perspectives and suggests three distinct behavioral fields, with little or no correlation: home-based actions, car use, and air travel for vacation. The factor home-based actions encompasses several behaviors and correlates with the New Ecological Paradigm scale but also with a measure of impression management. Implications for understanding and influencing environmentally significant behaviors are discussed.

Ecological Norm Orientation and Private Car Use

Norms to cut back on driving in order to protect the local and global environment are particularly distinctive in some Western European countries. But the existence of strong ecological norms does not inevitably lead to the appropriate behavior. On the basis of an integrative model, the chapter gives an overview of studies that have examined the influence of personal ecological norms on travel mode choice. It is shown under what conditions ecological norms may have an influence on travel mode choice. Suggestions are also made of norm-focused intervention measures.

Explaining Car Drivers' Intention to Prevent Road-Traffic Noise: An Application of the Norm Activation Model

Strengthening car drivers’ intention to prevent road-traffic noise is a first step toward noise abatement through voluntary change of behavior. We analyzed predictors of this intention based on the norm activation model (i.e., personal norm, problem awareness, awareness of consequences, social norm, and value orientations). Moreover, we studied the effects of noise exposure, noise sensitivity, and noise annoyance on problem awareness. Data came from 1,002 car drivers who participated in a two-wave longitudinal survey over 4 months. Personal norm had a large prospective effect on intention, even when the previous level of intention was controlled for, and mediated the effect of all other variables on intention. Almost 60% of variance in personal norm was explained by problem awareness, social norm, and biospheric value orientation. The effects of noise sensitivity and noise exposure on problem awareness were small and mediated by noise annoyance. We propose four communication strategies for strengthening the intention to prevent road-traffic noise in car drivers.

Was kann die Umweltpsychologie zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung beitragen

Der vorliegende Beitrag betrachtet die umweltpsychologische Forschungstradition und deren Beitrage zu Themen der nachhaltigen Entwicklung. Orientierung bieten dabei Leitfragen der Umweltpsychologie. Der Beitrag befasst sich zunachst mit der Wahrnehmung von nachhaltigkeitsrelevanten Umweltproblemen, insbesondere des Klimawandels. Im Fokus stehen Modelle und Befunde zur Erklarung von nachhaltigkeitsrelevanten Verhaltensweisen wie etwa Energiekonsum oder Mobilitatsentscheidungen. Schlieslich werden Moglichkeiten der kurz- und langfristigen Steuerung bzw. Forderung eines „solidarischen Lebensstils“ aufgezeigt.

Nachwirkung einer Gruppenübereinkunft

Zu Beginn dieses Auswertungsteils soll zuerst eine Ubersicht uber die Auswertungsschritte erfolgen, da im Rahmen der Konkretisierung der Fragestellung (s. Abschnitt 5.5) zwar die Richtung des Auswertungsvorgehens abgesteckt worden ist, aber eine endgultige Festlegung auf zu vollziehende Auswertungsschritte erst nach Durchfuhrung der Untersuchung erfolgen konnte.

Psychologie und Konstruktivismus

Warum wollen wir den Radikalen Konstruktivismus in die Wahrnehmungspsychologie hineintragen, warum interessiert uns diese Denkrichtung?

Beobachtungen am Prozeß der Erkenntniskonstruktion

Mit der Wahl der “Doppelschildkrote” als Tastobjekt hatten wir einen guten Griff getan. Auch ohne unsere Anregung produzierten alle 6 Einzeltastenden eine Fulle von sich standig andernden Deutungen. In Tabelle 4.2 sind zur Ubersicht alle Deutungen aufgefuhrt, zu denen die Untersuchungspersonen detaillierte Formbeschreibungen abgaben. Insgesamt wurde ein Vielfaches an Deutungen geausert (die Gesamtdeutungsverlaufe aller Untersuchungspersonen befinden sich im Anhang S.172ff). Zur Illustration soll der Deutungsverlauf der Up4 gezeigt werden: Up4 eine Tonarbeit irgendein Tier Ente oder Taube Gegenstand ein Tier mit buschigem Schwanz Gegenstand ein Eichhornchen Tier, als Tonfigur Gegenstand Tier aus Ton etwas Dachs- oder Iltisartiges etwas ganz Ungewohnliches eine umgekehrte Nase etwas Konventionelles kein Elefant ein Eichhornchen in merkwurdiger Korperhaltung