Addressing Inertia in Pro-Environmental Behavior through Nudges: A Review of Existing Literature and a Framework for Future Research

Beermann, V.; Haskamp, T.; Marx C.; Uebernickel, F.

Research article in edited proceedings (conference)

Abstract

To counteract global warming, individuals must adopt pro-environmental behaviors, but many prefer their established behaviors because of inertia. This paper analyzes how we can address the inertia that hinders pro-environmental behavior using digital nudges. Our structured literature review finds 19 out of 20 studies that show how decision information nudges like feedback overcome behavioral inertia. Most of the habitual patterns we identified could be attributed to private household behaviors like inefficient energy or water consumption. We contribute a framework for how the three dimensions of inertia-behavioral, cognitive, and affective inertia-are best each addressed using informational, structural, and assistance nudges, respectively.

Details about the publication

PublisherBui, Tung
Book titleProceedings of the 56th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Page range751-760
Article number978-0-9981331-6-4
Publishing companyAIS eLibrary
Place of publicationHawaii
StatusPublished
Release year2023
Language in which the publication is writtenEnglish
Conference56th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2023, Hawaii, United States
ISBN9780998133164
Link to the full texthttps://aisel.aisnet.org/hicss-56/da/analytics_for_green_is/4/
KeywordsGreen IS; Inertia; Literature Review; Nudging; Pro-Environmental Behavior

Authors from the University of Münster

Haskamp, Thomas
Chair of Information Systems and Business Process Management (Prof. vom Brocke) (BPM)