Mamedova, Aida (2025) The Influence of Cognitive Support on Pro-Environmental Behaviour: Examining the Moderating Role of Locus of Control. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
The following research aims to investigate nuances behind behaviour that influence whether or not an individual participates in the joint effort that is necessary to combat climate change. Maio et al. (2001) hypothesised that the reason why people do not always act in alignment with their values is because values are treated as truisms. Values are often widely shared with little contemplation and reasoning backing up why they are so important, in other words, there is a lack in cognitive support (Maio et al., 2001). Additionally, a high internal locus of control in combination with self-transcendent values (such as biospheric values) have been linked to pro-environmental behaviour (Jonsson & Nilsson, 2014). Therefore, the following study examines how increasing cognitive support influences pro-environmental behaviour and whether locus of control moderates this effect. This research uses methodology that replicates aspects of research conducted by Maio et al. (2001), specifically that of experiment two. 66 participants were deceived about the true nature of the experiment, and were assigned to either an experimental condition, where they wrote reasons for biospheric values (thus providing cognitive support), or a control condition where they rated these values. Pro-environmental behaviour was measured by the time volunteered for a fictitious litter-picking event. The results found that cognitive support within the experimental condition did not have significant effect on pro-environmental behaviour. Locus of control also did not moderate this relationship. These findings suggest that simply reflecting on environmental values may not be enough to drive action, and that locus of control does not moderate the effect of cognitive support on biospheric values. This highlights the need to explore other factors that may have a stronger influence on pro-environmental behaviour.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Supervisor name: | Sharpe, E.J. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Jun 2025 13:29 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Jun 2025 13:29 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4933 |
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