Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Understanding engagement and disengagement from pro-environmental behaviour: The role of neutralization and affirmation techniques in maintaining persistence in and desistance from car use

Uba, C. D. and Chatzidakis, A. (2016) Understanding engagement and disengagement from pro-environmental behaviour: The role of neutralization and affirmation techniques in maintaining persistence in and desistance from car use. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice. 94, pp. 278-294. 0965-8564.

[A][B][+][-]
8820:19016
[thumbnail of Uba20168820.pdf]
Uba20168820.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.
Information
Abstract:
Despite mounting evidence that car use is a prime culprit of global warming, our love affair with the car persists. General awareness of the environmental consequences of car usage is high but fails to correspond to moderated car use. This paper contributes to an understanding of how university students’ environmental beliefs affect decisions to engage in continued car use (persistence) and/or to discontinue or reduce car use (desistance). The aim of the research presented here was to explore the range of neutralizations and counterneutralizations (affirmations) employed by students and to examine the ways in which they are used to justify and maintain either persistence or desistance in car use. The research consisted of six focus group sessions with thirty-four UK-based Higher Education students. Analysis of the study’s data highlights the range of neutralizations and counter-neutralizations employed by students in social settings. The article discusses the usefulness of neutralization theory in accounting for actual and/or intended nonenvironmentally friendly behaviour such as car use. In addition, the study’s findings are discussed in relation to prior research and to potential implications for public policy interventions which favour moderating car usage.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
University students, car use justifications, neutralization theory, neutralizations and affirmations, persistence and desistence, travel behaviour
Creators:
Uba, C. D. and Chatzidakis, A.
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > China and Emerging Economies Centre
Research Centres > China and Emerging Economies Centre
Date:
1 September 2016
Date Type:
Acceptance
Page Range:
pp. 278-294
Journal or Publication Title:
Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
Volume:
94
Number of Pages:
17
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1016/j.tra.2016.09.002
ISSN:
0965-8564
Status:
Published / Disseminated
Refereed:
Yes
Related URLs:
Edit Item