Study • Environment · Conservation Behaviors
Crafting Normative Messages to Protect the Environment.
Cialdini (2003), ‘Crafting Normative Messages to Protect the Environment’, Current Directions in Psychological Science.
Summary by Mark Egan
When nudges go wrong. In an attempt to reduce the theft of wood from Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park the authors put up a sign with the descriptive social normative message “Many past visitors have removed petrified wood from the Park, changing the natural state of the Petrified Forest”. This led to a near 8% increase in wood theft, as people interpreted the salient message to be “theft is common” rather than “theft is bad”.
Tactics used
TACTICS
Social Norms
TACTICS
Environmental Restructuring
Behaviors addressed
Similar studies
Health · Diet & Nutrition
Schwartz et al. (2012). Inviting Consumers to Downsize Fast-Food Portions Significantly Reduces Calorie Consumption.
- Tactics
- Reminders, Cues, & Triggers
- Behaviors
- Diet & Nutrition
Finance · Fine or Debt Collection
Fellner et al. (2011). Testing Enforcement Strategies in the Field -Threat, Moral Appeal and Social Information.
- Tactics
- Social Norms, Reminders, Cues, & Triggers
- Behaviors
- Fine or Debt Collection
Finance · Other, Financial Behaviors
Letzler & Tasoff (2013). Everyone Believes in Redemption
- Tactics
- Reduce Friction or Barriers, Reminders, Cues, & Triggers, Implementation Intentions
- Behaviors
- Other, Financial Behaviors
Finance · Savings
Karlan et al. (2010). Getting to the Top of Mind: How Reminders Increase Saving.
- Tactics
- Reminders, Cues, & Triggers, Micro-Incentives, Goal Setting, Commitment Devices
- Behaviors
- Savings