Interested, indifferent or active information avoiders of carbon labels : Cognitive dissonance and ascription of responsibility as motivating factors
(2021) In Food Policy 101.- Abstract
Active avoidance of information is gaining attention in the behavioural sciences. We explore motivations for active avoidance of carbon emissions information. In the first stage of a stated preference survey, respondents indicated whether they wished to access carbon emissions information (info-takers) or not (info-decliners) when selecting a protein source. In the second stage, all respondents were provided with carbon emissions information. The info-takers reduced emissions from their food choices by 32%, while the info-decliners also reduced their emissions (by 12%). This indicates active information avoidance among at least some info-decliners. We explore how cognitive dissonance, responsibility feelings and personal norms affect a... (More)
Active avoidance of information is gaining attention in the behavioural sciences. We explore motivations for active avoidance of carbon emissions information. In the first stage of a stated preference survey, respondents indicated whether they wished to access carbon emissions information (info-takers) or not (info-decliners) when selecting a protein source. In the second stage, all respondents were provided with carbon emissions information. The info-takers reduced emissions from their food choices by 32%, while the info-decliners also reduced their emissions (by 12%). This indicates active information avoidance among at least some info-decliners. We explore how cognitive dissonance, responsibility feelings and personal norms affect a person's actions when information is imposed upon them, and their role as motivators for actively avoiding carbon emissions information on meat products. Individuals who experience climate-related cognitive dissonance and/or responsibility feelings change behaviour more following climate information, and it also increases choice task uncertainty mostly among these. These findings point to the potential of increasing impact from information by simultaneously increasing personal responsibility feelings and activating social norms.
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- author
- Edenbrandt, Anna Kristina LU ; Lagerkvist, Carl Johan and Nordström, Jonas LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021-05-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Carbon emission reduction, Climate label, Cognitive dissonance, Consumer behaviour, Information avoidance, Strategic ignorance
- in
- Food Policy
- volume
- 101
- article number
- 102036
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85101419524
- ISSN
- 0306-9192
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102036
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3492a2fb-a25b-4984-bad4-dc6a397f915a
- date added to LUP
- 2021-03-11 09:44:14
- date last changed
- 2024-01-03 05:58:50
@article{3492a2fb-a25b-4984-bad4-dc6a397f915a,
abstract = {{<p>Active avoidance of information is gaining attention in the behavioural sciences. We explore motivations for active avoidance of carbon emissions information. In the first stage of a stated preference survey, respondents indicated whether they wished to access carbon emissions information (info-takers) or not (info-decliners) when selecting a protein source. In the second stage, all respondents were provided with carbon emissions information. The info-takers reduced emissions from their food choices by 32%, while the info-decliners also reduced their emissions (by 12%). This indicates active information avoidance among at least some info-decliners. We explore how cognitive dissonance, responsibility feelings and personal norms affect a person's actions when information is imposed upon them, and their role as motivators for actively avoiding carbon emissions information on meat products. Individuals who experience climate-related cognitive dissonance and/or responsibility feelings change behaviour more following climate information, and it also increases choice task uncertainty mostly among these. These findings point to the potential of increasing impact from information by simultaneously increasing personal responsibility feelings and activating social norms.</p>}},
author = {{Edenbrandt, Anna Kristina and Lagerkvist, Carl Johan and Nordström, Jonas}},
issn = {{0306-9192}},
keywords = {{Carbon emission reduction; Climate label; Cognitive dissonance; Consumer behaviour; Information avoidance; Strategic ignorance}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{05}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Food Policy}},
title = {{Interested, indifferent or active information avoiders of carbon labels : Cognitive dissonance and ascription of responsibility as motivating factors}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102036}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102036}},
volume = {{101}},
year = {{2021}},
}