Hofbauer, Mara (2024) Is Litter in the Eye of The Beholder? The Influence of Goal Frames on Attention to Litter in Pictures of Nature. Master thesis, Psychology.
|
Text
ThesisMaraHofbauer.pdf Download (11MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Despite knowing that climate change exists, and counteraction is needed, many people still fail to consistently act pro-environmentally in their day-to-day life. Theories like goal framing theory attempt to explain why and when people act pro-environmentally or fail to do so. Goal framing theory states that in each situation thoughts, behavior, and attention of a person are influenced by an active goal frame (Lindenberg & Steg, 2007). Using eye-tracking, the current study investigates whether active hedonic or normative goal frames influence attention to litter in pictures of a littered natural environment. We expected that in a hedonic goal frame, people direct their attention away from the litter to avoid displeasure, while people in a normative goal frame direct their attention towards litter as a clue of a norm violation. In an experimental study (n = 65) we manipulated a student sample into a normative, hedonic, or neutral goal frame using picture material and targeted instructions. We presented 25 pictures showing a beautiful natural environment containing litter and used eye-tracking to measure the attentional allocation to litter and the beautiful nature aspects of these pictures. The results do not show a difference between the groups in the attentional allocation to litter or the beautiful environment, and most participants correctly remembered seeing litter in all pictures. These findings suggest that goal frames do not influence the attentional processes captured in this experiment. More research is needed to assess the influence of goal frames on cognitive processes like attention.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Kok, C.A. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Environmental Psychology (EP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jul 2024 11:53 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Jul 2024 11:53 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4123 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |