How can psychology help us understand and solve environmental and energy-related problems?
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Temporal stability of public acceptability of novel and established energy technologies
This study examines how stable public acceptability judgements towards novel and established energy technologies are over time, which is important to consider in decision-making about the transition to low-carbon and energy-efficient systems.
Spring quarterly newsletter is out!
This quarterly edition includes upcoming events, our latest research publications, media appearances, an introduction of our new communications intern, latest news, and what we've been reading from other environmental psychology research groups.
Values at Work: Understanding the Relationship of Individual and Perceived Organisational Values on Employees’ Motivation and Pro-Environmental Behaviour at Work
Organisations have a critical role to play in this process by reducing their environmental impact, so it is essential to understand which factors affect workplace pro-environmental behaviours (WPEBs).
Climate action on Twitter: perceived barriers for actions and actors, and sentiments during COP26
We studied public perceptions of what climate actions are needed, which actors should and can act, and which factors inhibit or enable those actions using the naturally occurring discourse on climate actions on Twitter during COP26.
Can behavior change increase biodiversity?
Environmental psychology research is increasingly showing that behavior change can and should play a crucial role in staving off biodiversity loss, and reaffirming that behavior change is a vital tool to help us preserve the ecosystems and species that keep our planet healthy and beautiful.
People’s perception of biodiversity loss: Validation of a scale in Germany
How do people perceive this urgent but hidden crisis, and what determines their perceptions? To address this question, we developed and validated the Biodiversity Loss Perception Scale (BiLoPS), which measures people’s perceptions of the reality, causes, and consequences of biodiversity loss.
Our most significant environmental psychology research insights from 2024
We asked all of the senior researchers in our group what they felt was the most significant scientific breakthrough from within our department and among our former colleagues from the past 12 months. Here’s what they had to say.
Good intentions, limited action: when do farmers’ intentions to adopt sustainable farming practices turn into actual behaviour?
Past use and knowledge of cover crops, perceived need for adaptation, being risk seeking in farming, and using advisory services predicted intentions, whereas only past use of cover crops predicted both intention and actual adoption. Moreover, only the strongest level of reported intentions had some value in predicting actual behaviour.
2024 in review: check out our scientific publications
The researchers have contributed to 17 scientific journal publications over the course of 2024, with insights on many facets of environmental behavior, ranging from acceptance of technology, climate anxiety, climate change as a voting issue, social tipping, citizen assemblies, community energy initiatives, and public trust.
Goda Perlaviciute among new Aletta Jacobs professors at University of Groningen
Our colleague Goda Perlaviciute is one of four new professors appointed in the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences through the Aletta Jacobs professorship initiative of the University of Groningen.
‘Yes, we care’: pro-environmental social identity framing to promote acceptance of decentralized wastewater treatment systems
Decentralized wastewater treatment systems can help mitigate the water crisis. Their successful implementation depends not only on their technological design but also on the level of public support.
The climate anxiety compass: A framework to map the solution space for coping with climate anxiety
We introduce the Climate Anxiety Compass: a framework that classifies strategies individuals can use to cope with climate anxiety along three dimensions: (a) problem-focused or emotion-focused, (b) mitigation or adaptation, and (c) individually oriented or collectively oriented.
Who we are and what we do
The Environmental Psychology Groningen expertise group investigates how willing people are to make a personal contribution to the cause of combating climate change and which policies can effectively encourage sustainable behaviour.