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First published online June 1, 2009

Averting the Tragedy of the Commons: Using Social Psychological Science to Protect the Environment

Abstract

Many local and global environmental challenges are tragedies-of-the-commons dilemmas in which private and collective interests are frequently at odds. Recent developments in social psychological theory and research suggest that in such commons dilemmas people are not just motivated by narrow (economic) self-interest but that they also consider the broader implications of their decisions for others and for the natural environment. Based on a core-motives analysis, I identify four necessary components for designing interventions to protect the environment: (a) information, (b) identity, (c) institutions, and (d) incentives, and discuss their utility and the feasibility of incorporating them.

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Recommended Reading

Biel A., Eek D., Garling T., Gustafson T. (2008). New issues and paradigms in research on social dilemmas. Berlin: Springer. A state-of-the-art review of contemporary research on social dilemmas.
Buunk B.P., Van Vugt M. (2008). Applying social psychology: From problems to solutions. London: Sage. A manual for developing social interventions informed by social psychological theory and research.
Gardner G.T., Stern P.C. (1996). Environmental problems and human behavior. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. A complete, highly accessible text about the human impact on the environment.
Ostrom E. (1990). (See References). A classic book with case studies of commons resource management problems from around the world.
Van Vugt M. (2001). (See References). A representative empirical study of a real-world commons dilemma, a water shortage.

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Article first published online: June 1, 2009
Issue published: June 2009

Keywords

  1. commons dilemma
  2. cooperation
  3. core motives
  4. environmental conservation
  5. human evolution
  6. social dilemma
  7. social psychology
  8. tragedy of the commons

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© 2009 Association for Psychological Science.
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Authors

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Mark Van Vugt

Notes

Mark Van Vugt, Department of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK; e-mail: [email protected].

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