Washington, June 30 (ANI): A team of psychologists has said that how people choose to consume resources and use contraception influences their responses to climate change.
Janet K. Swim, professor of psychology, Penn State, and her colleagues reported that growing consumption and growing population are two significant contributors to human impact on the environment. Both substantially increase carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
"Engaging in one type of environmentally friendly behaviour can predispose one to engage in similar behaviours, inhibit other behaviours, or even increase environmentally harmful behaviours," said Swim.
Swim and her colleagues reported that people's perceptions of how their behaviour affects the environment influences how they act. If people do not believe that the choices they make will substantially improve the environment, then they are less likely to participate in activities like recycling, turning off lights when leaving a room or car pooling.
Some behaviours offset environmental gains. If a family buys a fuel-efficient vehicle but chooses to drive more miles than they previously did, there is no gain for the environment.
Decisions about environmental consumption and behaviours that use environmental resources are influenced by culture as well as an individual's abilities and motivations, the researchers noted. Some cultural factors are structural.
For example, as people began moving further away from city centres, cars became important for transportation. Other cultural factors, however, influence perceived needs and desires. The types of cars people drive and how fast people drive influences how much gasoline is consumed. People's cars and speed are often both influenced by advertising and others' purchasing and driving behaviours.
Cultural and individual abilities and needs also influence contraceptive use.
The finding has been published in the American Psychologist. (ANI)
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