Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

4-2022

Abstract

The norm activation model typically concerns behaviors individuals perform to avoid contributing to an environmental problem, which recent research characterized as self-managing behaviors. That research also accounted for behaviors focused on the actions of others, which it labeled other-managing behaviors, finding such behaviors are uniquely related to community attachment and anticipated shame/embarrassment. The current study accounts additionally for civic engagement, which it conceptualizes as a “sibling” of other-managing behaviors. Structural equation modeling of data from a national survey of Singapore residents (N = 949) showed that anticipated shame/embarrassment is related to other managing behavior (β = 0.10) and civic engagement (β = 0.15). In an alternative model, this study added anticipated guilt as a predictor of other managing behavior (β = 0.29) and civic engagement (β = 0.21). In that latter model, anticipated shame/embarrassment was not a significant predictor of either outcome variable. A general conclusion is that the extended norm activation model should include guilt as a predictor of other-managing behaviors and civic engagement. The discussion considers these findings in relation to responsibility denial, emotional arousal, and group-based emotions.

Keywords

Civic engagement, Community attachment, Emotion, Litter, Norm activation

Discipline

Civic and Community Engagement

Research Areas

Integrative Research Areas

Publication

Journal of Environmental Psychology

Volume

80

First Page

1

Last Page

11

ISSN

0272-4944

Identifier

10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101757

Publisher

Elsevier

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101757

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