Psychological research and energy policy.

Abstract

Psychologists have recently begun to show interest in energy policy issues and to conduct energy-related research. The authors argue that psychology can provide valuable input to energy policy, but that its contribution has been impeded by psychologists general unfamiliarity with world and national energy systems. A behaviorally oriented analysis of the US energy system is presented, and its implications for psychological research are discussed. The analysis identifies behaviors with major conservation potential that have been little studied by psychologists. It further suggests that subdisciplines which have not attended to energy issues could make major contributions, and that psychologists could move beyond energy-conservation concerns to make important policy contributions in areas affecting energy supply. Finally, emphasis is given to the need to conduct research with an awareness of major long-term trends in national and global energy systems. 52 references, 3 tables.

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1. New Environmental Theories: Toward a Coherent Theory of Environmentally Significant Behavior
   Stern, Paul C. · 2000 · Journal of Social Issues
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   Dietz, Thomas, Gardner, Gerald T., Gilligan, Jonathan, Stern, Paul C., Vandenbergh, Michael P. · 2009 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
3. Environmental knowledge and conservation behavior: exploring prevalence and structure in a representative sample
   Frick, Jacqueline, Kaiser, Florian G., Wilson, Mark · 2004 · Personality and Individual Differences
4. Value Structures behind Proenvironmental Behavior
   Nordlund, Annika M., Garvill, Jörgen · 2002 · Environment and Behavior
5. Models of Decision Making and Residential Energy Use
   Wilson, Charlie, Dowlatabadi, Hadi · 2007 · Annual Review of Environment and Resources

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