Dirr, Ida Maria (2024) The Effects of Perceived Motivation and Perceived Overarching Social Identity on Environmental Minorities’ Potential to Spark Change. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
The present study examines how people living in ecovillages can present themselves in order to be more accepted by the inhabitants of the local region and, in turn, motivate participation in their initiative. Perceived high moral motivation of the ecovillagers is hypothesized to reduce people’s evaluation of the ecovillage, the perception of a shared group and pro-environmental ingroup perceptions. On the other hand, highlighting the ecovillagers’ identification with the local region is expected to improve the evaluation of the ecovillage and the perception of a shared group. An interaction effect of identification with the local region neutralizing the negative effects of high moral motivation is expected. In an experimental 3 (high moral motivation vs. moderate moral motivation vs. mixed motivation) by 2 (identification with the local region vs. with the ecovillage) design, 469 participants read scenarios and gave their assessment on several outcome measures. In line with our predictions, high moral motivation negatively affected the cognitive and affective evaluation of ecovillages and identification with the local region improved the evaluation of ecovillages and created a sense of shared identity. Both factors interacted in their effects on environmental group identity. However, in contrast to our hypotheses, the experimental factors did not affect the other outcome variables and there were no other interaction effects. The implications of this study include the risks of overly moral argumentation as well as the benefits of highlighting identification with the local region which are important for shaping environmental minority groups’ role in the transition toward sustainability.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Supervisor name: | Jans, L. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Environmental Psychology (EP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Jul 2024 14:04 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jul 2024 14:04 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4169 |
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