Public acceptability of low consumption lifestyles: understanding consumer experience, policy support and behaviour change

Thorman, Daniel 2021. Public acceptability of low consumption lifestyles: understanding consumer experience, policy support and behaviour change. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This thesis is a critical realist mixed methods exploration of low consumption lifestyles using deliberative focus groups and experimental paradigms. A rationale connected literature from political ecology, ecological economics, sociology, and climate modelling with social psychology of environmental consumption behaviour. The thematic analysis in the qualitative phase illustrated the relevance of social norms and fairness, guilt and cognitive dissonance, self-interest and co-benefits of lifestyle change, and the limitations placed upon individual agency by structural neoliberalism. These themes are discussed in reference to understanding public acceptability of low consumption and the potential for the integration of degrowth ideals in future imaginaries and pathways to carbon emissions reduction targets. A sequential quantitative phase then employs two experimental paradigm design studies by operationalising key qualitative findings to explore the efficacy of social norms framing and hypocrisy inducement upon preferences for social policies and their governance pathways, and influences on individual behavioural intentions. Social norms are not found to be significantly effective, but the activation of hypocrisy significantly reduces behavioural intention to consume. The research also finds evidence to support the provision of information in order to increase policy support for radical policy change and to foster forms of grassroots community governance. Preferences were found for government regulation on production and consumption of goods, and community development for sharing economy and reduced work hours, over the deregulation of individual and market freedoms. Taken together, the research phases offer understandings of agency where acquiescence appears to overwhelm action and suggests that behaviour change models focusing on consumer behaviour rather than citizenship might reinforce this. It is found that social psychological models of behaviour change could instead be geared towards policy support, in order to create a social mandate for new ways of living. The drive for self-interest in a neoliberal society might be co-opted towards low consumption by highlighting the greater potential for co-benefits such as self-fulfilment and life-satisfaction or geared towards experiential and utilitarian forms of consumption. Implications for policy development and behaviour change programs are discussed.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	15 September 2021
Date of Acceptance:	15 September 2021
Last Modified:	15 Sep 2021 13:55
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/144133

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