Environmental Psychology - Topic 3

Question 1

What are the negative issues with air pollution? how is it created?

Answer 1

smog and pollutants have health risks such as heart attacks, acid rain, eutrophication

Question 2

What are the negative issues with water pollution? how is it created?

Answer 2

diseases from ill food
cholera
rubbish/chemicals dumped in water by urban areas

Question 3

What are the negative issues with global warming? how is it created?

Answer 3

more frequent severe weather, higher death rates due to temperature related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or kidney disease

Question 4

What are 2 examples of conservation behaviours that can help the environment?

Answer 4

turning off lights when they aren’t needed

turning off ignition when in traffic

Question 5

What is an antecedent strategy?

Answer 5

a strategy for before the behaviour takes place

attempt to change understanding

Question 6

Give 3 examples of information campaigns?

Answer 6

WWF
Think! Drink Driving
WaterAid

Question 7

What is a consequent strategy?

Answer 7

a strategy for after the behaviour takes place

acts as a reward/punishment

Question 8

Will the negative behaviour still carry on when using positive reinforcement?

Answer 8

no, people will expect the reward so will not continue the behaviour until they have achieved the reward

Question 9

What is an example of a conservation behaviour that is being fined for not being carried out?

Answer 9

£110 fine for putting waste in the wrong bin

Question 10

How can increased rewards or costs make you change your behaviour?

Answer 10

by punishing people with fines, it could act as a deterrent which can put people off and encourage them to recycle in the future

Question 11

What was the aim of the research by Lord (1994)?

Answer 11

to show that certain messages/sources could improve attitudes towards recycling, and increase participation

Question 12

What is the sample used in Lord’s study?

Answer 12

140 households

7 groups of 20

Question 13

What were the 7 conditions in Lord’s study?

Answer 13

advert, positive
advert, negative
paper, positive
paper, negative
letter, positive
letter, negative
no message at all

Question 14

How was recycling observed?

Answer 14

by measuring the amount of items placed into recycling bins for each house

Question 15

Which message had the biggest impact on recycling behaviour?

Answer 15

positively framed had a higher level of belief in statements

Question 16

Which source had the biggest impact?

Answer 16

personal letter with a negatively framed message

Question 17

Which strategy does Lord suggest is the best to improve behaviours?

Answer 17

negatively framed message from person acquaintance

Question 18

Are these strategies antecedent or consequent?

Answer 18

antecedent as they try to encourage but there is not reward

Question 19

What kind of antecedent strategy could be used to improve the air pollution in Southampton?

Answer 19

displaying signs saying to turn off your car’s ignition when in traffic

Question 20

Why might this strategy not be effective?

Answer 20

it doesn’t punish people, it just raises awareness, so people may take no notice