Interested, indifferent or active information avoiders of carbon labels: Cognitive dissonance and ascription of responsibility as motivating factors

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Standard

Interested, indifferent or active information avoiders of carbon labels : Cognitive dissonance and ascription of responsibility as motivating factors. / Edenbrandt, Anna Kristina; Lagerkvist, Carl Johan; Nordström, Jonas.

In: Food Policy, Vol. 101, 102036, 2021.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Edenbrandt, AK, Lagerkvist, CJ & Nordström, J 2021, 'Interested, indifferent or active information avoiders of carbon labels: Cognitive dissonance and ascription of responsibility as motivating factors', Food Policy, vol. 101, 102036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102036

APA

Edenbrandt, A. K., Lagerkvist, C. J., & Nordström, J. (2021). Interested, indifferent or active information avoiders of carbon labels: Cognitive dissonance and ascription of responsibility as motivating factors. Food Policy, 101, [102036]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102036

Vancouver

Edenbrandt AK, Lagerkvist CJ, Nordström J. Interested, indifferent or active information avoiders of carbon labels: Cognitive dissonance and ascription of responsibility as motivating factors. Food Policy. 2021;101. 102036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102036

Author

Edenbrandt, Anna Kristina ; Lagerkvist, Carl Johan ; Nordström, Jonas. / Interested, indifferent or active information avoiders of carbon labels : Cognitive dissonance and ascription of responsibility as motivating factors. In: Food Policy. 2021 ; Vol. 101.

Bibtex

@article{2b50faf347f94e57b749734332887e99,
title = "Interested, indifferent or active information avoiders of carbon labels: Cognitive dissonance and ascription of responsibility as motivating factors",
abstract = "Active avoidance of information is gaining attention in the behavioural sciences. We explore motivations for active avoidance of carbon emissions information. In the first stage of a stated preference survey, respondents indicated whether they wished to access carbon emissions information (info-takers) or not (info-decliners) when selecting a protein source. In the second stage, all respondents were provided with carbon emissions information. The info-takers reduced emissions from their food choices by 32%, while the info-decliners also reduced their emissions (by 12%). This indicates active information avoidance among at least some info-decliners. We explore how cognitive dissonance, responsibility feelings and personal norms affect a person's actions when information is imposed upon them, and their role as motivators for actively avoiding carbon emissions information on meat products. Individuals who experience climate-related cognitive dissonance and/or responsibility feelings change behaviour more following climate information, and it also increases choice task uncertainty mostly among these. These findings point to the potential of increasing impact from information by simultaneously increasing personal responsibility feelings and activating social norms.",
keywords = "Carbon emission reduction, Climate label, Cognitive dissonance, Consumer behaviour, Information avoidance, Strategic ignorance",
author = "Edenbrandt, {Anna Kristina} and Lagerkvist, {Carl Johan} and Jonas Nordstr{\"o}m",
year = "2021",
doi = "10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102036",
language = "English",
volume = "101",
journal = "Food Policy",
issn = "0306-9192",
publisher = "Pergamon Press",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Interested, indifferent or active information avoiders of carbon labels

T2 - Cognitive dissonance and ascription of responsibility as motivating factors

AU - Edenbrandt, Anna Kristina

AU - Lagerkvist, Carl Johan

AU - Nordström, Jonas

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Active avoidance of information is gaining attention in the behavioural sciences. We explore motivations for active avoidance of carbon emissions information. In the first stage of a stated preference survey, respondents indicated whether they wished to access carbon emissions information (info-takers) or not (info-decliners) when selecting a protein source. In the second stage, all respondents were provided with carbon emissions information. The info-takers reduced emissions from their food choices by 32%, while the info-decliners also reduced their emissions (by 12%). This indicates active information avoidance among at least some info-decliners. We explore how cognitive dissonance, responsibility feelings and personal norms affect a person's actions when information is imposed upon them, and their role as motivators for actively avoiding carbon emissions information on meat products. Individuals who experience climate-related cognitive dissonance and/or responsibility feelings change behaviour more following climate information, and it also increases choice task uncertainty mostly among these. These findings point to the potential of increasing impact from information by simultaneously increasing personal responsibility feelings and activating social norms.

AB - Active avoidance of information is gaining attention in the behavioural sciences. We explore motivations for active avoidance of carbon emissions information. In the first stage of a stated preference survey, respondents indicated whether they wished to access carbon emissions information (info-takers) or not (info-decliners) when selecting a protein source. In the second stage, all respondents were provided with carbon emissions information. The info-takers reduced emissions from their food choices by 32%, while the info-decliners also reduced their emissions (by 12%). This indicates active information avoidance among at least some info-decliners. We explore how cognitive dissonance, responsibility feelings and personal norms affect a person's actions when information is imposed upon them, and their role as motivators for actively avoiding carbon emissions information on meat products. Individuals who experience climate-related cognitive dissonance and/or responsibility feelings change behaviour more following climate information, and it also increases choice task uncertainty mostly among these. These findings point to the potential of increasing impact from information by simultaneously increasing personal responsibility feelings and activating social norms.

KW - Carbon emission reduction

KW - Climate label

KW - Cognitive dissonance

KW - Consumer behaviour

KW - Information avoidance

KW - Strategic ignorance

U2 - 10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102036

DO - 10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102036

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85101419524

VL - 101

JO - Food Policy

JF - Food Policy

SN - 0306-9192

M1 - 102036

ER -

ID: 258974458