Deck 8: To Be Green or Not to Be Green Its a Question of Motivation

Question 1

Using the four stages of change as a framework, describe the process a person would go through when adopting a new sustainable lifestyle habit (you pick the habit)

Answer 1

No Answer

Question 2

From the S.M.A.R.T. perspective, which of the following goals will be the most effective for someone trying to reduce her food footprint?

A)I will eat more in-season food this year.
B)I will participate in Meatless Mondays for the next two months.
C)Starting today, I will eat only local, organic produce.
D)I will cook more meals at home and eat out less.

Answer 2

I will participate in Meatless Mondays for the next two months.

Question 3

Which of the following is false about goals?

A)Goals can be especially helpful for tackling overwhelming tasks.
B)Goals support all of the functions of motivation.
C)Goals can be general or specific.
D)Goals are only modestly effective.

Answer 3

Goals are only modestly effective.

Question 4

Which function(s) of motivation do goals support?

A)directing effort
B)mobilizing energy
C)maintaining effort
D)Goals support all of the functions of motivation.

Question 5

Which of the following describes a situation in which interactional justice is present?

A)outcomes feel fair
B)people are treated with dignity and respect
C)all parties have a say in the process
D)all of the above.

Question 6

Like Self-Determination Theory, Procedural Justice Theory suggests that motivation can be undermined by situations in which people feel

A)controlled by others.
B)clueless about what to do.
C)that they are doing more than their fair share.
D)the costs outweigh the benefits.

Question 7

If you feel like you are putting in more effort than others to save the planet, Equity Theory predicts that

A)you may stop trying so hard.
B)you will work even harder so as to pick up the slack for others.
C)this won't matter to you.
D)all of the above are predictions that might stem from Equity Theory

Question 8

Which of the following situations would not be predicted by equity theory?

A)Clara feels she is doing more than her roommate Maeve is to conserve electricty, so Clara pressures Maeve to do more.
B)Clara feels she is doing more than her roommate Maeve is to conserve electricty, so Clara stops trying so hard.
C)Clara feels she is doing more than her roommate Maeve is to conserve electricty, but she convinces herself it is because she has more ideas than Maeve does about where to cut back.
D)Clara feels she is doing more than her roommate Maeve is to conserve electricty, and she figures, ""so what? No big deal.""

Question 9

Which of the following describes a distribution of outcomes based on equity?

A)People who purchase small, fuel efficient vehicles get a gas tax break.
B)everyone pays the same gasoline tax, regardless of their vehicle.
C)people with expensive vehicles pay higher gas tax than people with cheap vehicles.
D)people who need more gas just to do their jobs pay less gas tax.

Question 10

Which of the following describes a fair distribution of outcomes?

A)everyone receives the same benefit or incurs the same cost
B)people who need more get more, and people who can afford more pay more
C)people who contribute more receive more
D)All of these may be considered fair distributions of outcomes.

Question 11

The factors that determine whether people consider a situation fair include

A)who is in control, who gets the most benefit, and who gets to set the rules
B)equal outcomes for everyone involved, procedures governed by rules that don't change, and polite interactions.
C)who is involved, what's being negotiated, who has control
D)how the process is handled, how the outcomes are distributed, and how people are treated interpersonally

Question 12

Expectancy Theory would predict that in order to feel optimally motivated to compost, a person must believe all of the following except

A)Returning nutrients to the natural cycle is a worthwhile activity.
B)Composting is an effective way to return nutrients to the natural cycle.
C)My social network will approve of my composting.
D)I can successfully compost where I live.

Question 13

Which of the following best captures the variable of expectancy in Expectancy Theory?

A)Is this behavior good, valuable, or otherwise important?
B)Is this behavior actually connected to my desired outcome?
C)does my community support me doing this behavior?
D)Is it possible for me to successfully do this behavior?

Question 14

Which of the following best captures the variable of instrumentality in Expectancy Theory?

A)Is this behavior good, valuable, or otherwise important?
B)Is this behavior actually connected to my desired outcome?
C)does my community support me doing this behavior?
D)Is it possible for me to successfully do this behavior?

Question 15

Which of the following best captures the variable of valence in Expectancy Theory?

A)Is this behavior good, valuable, or otherwise important?
B)Is this behavior actually connected to my desired outcome?
C)does my community support me doing this behavior?
D)Is it possible for me to successfully do this behavior?

Question 16

Which of the following is not one of the three perceptions emphasized by Expectancy Theory?

A)valence
B)instrumentality
C)expectancy
D)intentionality

Question 17

From the S.M.A.R.T. perspective, which of the following goals will be the most effective for someone trying to behave more sustainably?

A)I will reduce my carbon footprint so I contribute less to climate change.
B)I will contribute money to some environmental organizations each month.
C)I will compost all compostables and recycle all recyclables in my household waste.
D)I will eventually install solar panels on my house.

Question 18

Suppose From the S.M.A.R.T. perspective, goals are most motivating when

A)they are easy to achieve
B)it is easy to track progress
C)they don't include deadlines
D)all of the above

Question 19

What are S.M.A.R.T. goals? Describe an example of setting S.M.A.R.T. goals to reduce one's carbon footprint.

Question 20

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2009) defines environmental justice as the "fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." Describe how this definition encompasses distributive, procedural, and interactional justice.

Question 21

As the text describes, during water shortages local governments sometimes implement rules like ""lawn watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m."" From the perspective of Procedural Justice Theory, what is a potential problem with suddently announcing a rule like this?

Question 22

As the text describes, during water shortages local governments sometimes implement rules like ""lawn watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m."" From the perspective of Equity Theory, why might a rule like this feel unfair to some homeowners?

Question 23

According to the Theory of Planned Behavior and Expectancy Theory, how do people's perceptions affect their motivation to do a behavior? Illustrate your explanation with an example of a proenvironmental behavior.

Question 24

What do the Theory of Planned Behavior and Expectancy Theory address that VBN Theory does not? Describe the specifics of each theory in your explanation.

Question 25

According to VBN theory, how do values, beliefs, and norms work together to influence behavior? Illustrate your explanation with an example of a proenvironmental behavior.

Question 26

As the text describes, during water shortages local governments sometimes implement rules like ""lawn watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m."" From the perspective of Self-Determination Theory, how might rules like this undermine homeowners' motivation to generally conserve water?

Question 27

According to Self-Determination Theory, what three basic needs must be met so for people to feel intrinsically motivated? Consider the ecologically positive but not necessarily appealing behavior of composting food scraps. How might composting be presented in a way that would make people feel fulfillment of these needs?

Question 28

Which of the following interventions would be most effective for people who are in the postaction stage of adopting a new sustainable lifestyle habit?

A)providing information about why the change is useful
B)helping people choose among specific behaviors
C)helping people create an implementation plan
D)providing feedback

Question 29

Which of the following interventions would be most effective for people who are in the action stage of adopting a new sustainable lifestyle habit?

A)providing information about why the change is useful
B)helping people choose among specific behaviors
C)helping people create an implementation plan
D)providing feedback

Question 30

Which of the following interventions would be most effective for people who are in the preaction stage of adopting a new sustainable lifestyle habit?

A)providing information about why the change is useful
B)helping people choose among specific behaviors
C)helping people create an implementation plan
D)providing feedback

Question 31

Which of the following interventions would be most effective for people who are in the predecision stage of adopting a new sustainable lifestyle habit?

A)providing information about why the change is useful
B)helping people choose among specific behaviors
C)helping people create an implementation plan
D)providing feedback

Question 32

Which of the following is falseabout the motivating effects of negative feedback?

A)It may work for some people and not for others, depending on whether it feels relevant.
B)Receiving negative feedback can be discouraging rather than motivating.
C)Negative feedback is likely to backfire, so positive feedback is always preferable.
D)Negative feedback may work best for people who are already motivated to improve.

Question 33

Based on research findings concerning the use of feedback to curb consumers' energy use, which of the following would not be good advice for an electicity provider?

A)Give feedback in the form of scientific units, such as kilowatt hours.
B)Give feedback that is appliance-specific rather than general.
C)Give feedback that includes historical comparison graphs.
D)Provide devices that give real-time feedback on electricity use.

Question 34

The ability of the Theory of Planned Behavior to predict proenvironmental intentions is enhanced by adding information about ___________ to the model.

A)past behavior
B)personal identity
C)beliefs about people who do the behavior
D)all of the above

Question 35

Which of the following is not one of the predictors in the original Theory of Planned Behavior?

A)attitude toward behavior
B)subjective norms about behavior
C)perceived control over behavior
D)beliefs about effectiveness of behavior

Question 36

Which of the following is not one of the three universal needs posited by Self-Determination Theory?

A)the need to feel we have choices and free will
B)the need to have high status and material wealth
C)the need to be socially connected and accepted
D)the need to feel competent to achieve goals

Question 37

Which of the following is not one of the functions of motivation?

A)organizing complexity
B)directing effort
C)mobilizing energy
D)maintaining effort

Question 38

When it comes to adopting new sustainable behaviors, not everyone is ready for immediate action.

Question 39

As people progress through stages of change in adopting new behaviors, they sometimes relapse to an earlier stage.

Question 40

Feedback must be at the individual level to be motivating.

Question 41

Social feedback is not useful for encouraging energy conservation.

Question 42

Real-time energy feedback leads to substantially reduced household energy consumption

Question 43

The motivating effects of feedback are immediate, rather than prolonged.

Question 44

Sometimes how a decision is made can be more important to people than what they actually get from it.

Question 45

When a situation feels inequitable, people generally feel motivated to make it feel more equitable.

Question 46

People generally act in line with their values, even when there are situational constraints working against them.

Question 47

People generally act in line with their values, even when the believe their behavior is likely to be unsuccessful.

Question 48

Values directly influence behavior.

Question 49

Self-Determination Theory suggests that it is better to tell people they should do a behavior than suggest that they could do that behavior.

Question 50

When people's behavior is consistent with their personal values, that behavior is intrinsically motivated.

Question 51

According to Self-Determination Theory, situations that support need fulfilment foster

A)amotivation
B)extrinsic motivation
C)intrinsic motivation
D)inaction

Question 52

When intrinsically motivated, people act

A)in line with their values because of external rewards.
B)in line with their values no matter the situational consequences.
C)in line with others' values because of external rewards.
D)in line with others' values no matter the situational consequences.

Question 53

When constraints are present, the Theory of Planned Behavior suggests that the most effective behavioral interventions will

A)minimize barriers.
B)influence values.
C)change attitudes.
D)increase intentions.

Question 54

As predicted by the Theory of Planned Behavior, perceived situational constraints _____________ the effect of attitudes and values on behavioral intentions.

A)are no match for
B)can override
C)enhance
D)nullify

Question 55

People tend to perceive less behavioral control over environmentally responsible behaviors that are

A)costly
B)difficult
C)inconvenient
D)all of the above

Question 56

Even when people's values, beliefs, and personal norms orient them toward proenvironmental behavior, they may not follow through due to

A)perceptions that they lack behavioral control
B)perceptions that their behavior will not be effective
C)both A and B
D)neither A nor B

Question 57

As predicted by VBN theory, among participants in a study at an island park in California self-reported proenvironmental behaviors were predicted by

A)self-transcendent values
B)a belief that oneself is connected to the environment
C)a feeling of responsibility for actions that impact the environment
D)all of the above

Question 58

According to the Values Beliefs Norms (VBN) theory, beliefs

A)are influenced by values
B)are the link between values and personal norms
C)activate personal norms
D)all of the above

Question 59

According to the Values Beliefs Norms (VBN) theory, values

A)influence beliefs
B)are influenced by beliefs
C)activate personal norms
D)are influenced by personal norms

Question 60

According to Self-Determination Theory, which of the following efforts to promote energy conservation would likely foster the most intrinsic motivation?

A)laws mandating blackout hours during which homeowners must limit electricity use
B)home energy audits that provide options and how-to information for joining the community's efforts to save electricity
C)commercials portraying homeowners being shamed for wasting electricity and praised for saving it
D)informational pamphlets providing a list of well-supported reasons why homeowners should try to save electricity.

Question 61

Researchers typically measure level of self-determination for environmental behaviors with the Motivation Toward the Environment Scale (MTES) The MTES includes items tapping into

A)extrinsic motivation.
B)instrinsic motivation.
C)amotivation.
D)all of the above

Question 62

Given that solving ecological problems will require people to make some challenging behavioral changes, it will be crucial to create situations that

A)fulfill needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence.
B)faciliate intrinsic motivation.
C)create a feeling of self-determination.
D)All of the above.

Question 63

Self-determination appears to be especially important when it comes to __________ behaviors.

A)easy
B)frequent
C)externally rewarded
D)challenging or costly

Question 64

Research studies suggest that in the context of environmental behavior, there is ________________ between self-determination and proenvironmental behavior.

A)a positive correlation
B)a negative correlation
C)no correlation
D)both a positive and negative correlation

Question 65

In a study of Canadian students, those who felt their government's environmental regulations supported individual freedom to make decisions reported

A)a lack of motivation to engage in proenvironmental behavior
B)extrinsic motivation to engage in proenvironmental behavior
C)intrinsic motivation to engage in proenvironmental behavior
D)feeling coerced to engage in proenvironmental behavior

Question 66

According to Self-Determination Theory, behaviors that start out as extrinsically motivated can ultimately become intrinsically motivated if social values

A)become internalized and transformed into personal values.
B)cause a person to feel that he or she must, or should, behave that way.
C)are tied to external rewards such as social approval.
D)are inconsistent with the person's own values.

Question 67

Suppose that Maya commutes on her bicycle because her friends think it is cool. In this scenario, it appears that Maya is

A)behaving in line with her personal values
B)self-determined
C)intrinsically motivated
D)extrinsically motivated

Question 68

Basic needs underlie many of the social and cognitive tendencies that contribute to unsustainable behavior.