Moral Norms and Environmental Behavior

An Application of Schwartz's Norm‐Activation Model to Yard Burning 1

Bibliographic Data

ID23367667
AuthorsKent D Van Liere (Washington State University), Riley E Dunlap (0000-0002-7047-3757, Washington State University)
Year1978
Volume8
Issue2
Pages174-188
Publication date1978-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Applied Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9029 • E-ISSN: 1559-1816
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1559-1816.1978.tb00775.x
OpenAlexW2090635291
LanguageEN
Citations received94
References cited11

The purpose of this study was to examine some conditions under which moral norms, i.e., respect for the health of others, would be expected to influence environmentally related behavior. In particular, using a model developed by Schwartz, the study was conducted to determine whether variation in awareness of consequences (AC) and ascription of responsibility (AR) were associated with yard‐burning behavior. It was expected that respondents who were aware of the negative consequences which burning could have for other people, and who accepted responsibility for their burning and its consequences, would be less likely to burn yard or garden wastes than those who were unaware of these conditions. It was found that AR was significantly related to burning behavior, while AC had only a weak association with burning. Further, as expected from Schwartz's model, a significant interaction between AR, AC, and burning behavior was found. These findings are discussed and the usefulness of this type of model for understanding other environmental behaviors is considered.

Ascription · Legal norm · Moral responsibility · Norm (philosophy) · Theology · Yard · Law · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Psychology of Social Influence · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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