Counterproductive norms can be addressed via informational interventions: The case of 'wishcycling' [Author Accepted Manuscript]
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Kramer, Eli
Yoeli, Erez
Rand, David G.
Abstract / Description
Social norms are integral to human prosociality but can also lead to ineffective or even counterproductive “prosocial” behaviors. We provide an ex- ample of one such counterproductive norm and demonstrate how simple in- formational interventions can improve behavior. Study 1 shows that among those who recycle, people with stronger prosocial concerns about sustainability are actually worse recyclers-they err on the side of recycling when in doubt. Such ‘wishcycling’ leads to contamination of the recycling stream, increasing the cost of recycling, sometimes to the point that entire batches of recyclables are sent to landfill. Unlike traditional public goods problems, this dilemma results from lack of information rather than lack of prosocial motivation. Study 2 therefore introduces a simple informational intervention designed to address this counterproductive behavior. Relative to the placebo and control, our intervention significantly reduces wishcycling. Our findings highlight the importance of unambiguous instructions on behaving prosocially for effectively promoting public goods.
Keyword(s)
Social Norms Recycling Public Goods Prosocial BehaviorPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2025-05-12
Journal title
Global Environmental Psychology
Publisher
PsychArchives
Publication status
acceptedVersion
Review status
reviewed
Is version of
Citation
Kramer, E., Yoeli, E., & Rand, D. G. (in press). Counterproductive norms can be addressed via informational interventions: The case of 'wishcycling' [Author Accepted Manuscript]. Global Environmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.16357
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Kramer_et_al_2025_Wishcycling_GEP_AAM.pdfAdobe PDF - 4.59MBMD5: 831f1d9f91f14a40225b7cd60146700bDescription: Accepted Manuscript
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There are no other versions of this object.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Kramer, Eli
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Yoeli, Erez
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Rand, David G.
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2025-05-12T14:25:43Z
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Made available on2025-05-12T14:25:43Z
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Date of first publication2025-05-12
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Abstract / DescriptionSocial norms are integral to human prosociality but can also lead to ineffective or even counterproductive “prosocial” behaviors. We provide an ex- ample of one such counterproductive norm and demonstrate how simple in- formational interventions can improve behavior. Study 1 shows that among those who recycle, people with stronger prosocial concerns about sustainability are actually worse recyclers-they err on the side of recycling when in doubt. Such ‘wishcycling’ leads to contamination of the recycling stream, increasing the cost of recycling, sometimes to the point that entire batches of recyclables are sent to landfill. Unlike traditional public goods problems, this dilemma results from lack of information rather than lack of prosocial motivation. Study 2 therefore introduces a simple informational intervention designed to address this counterproductive behavior. Relative to the placebo and control, our intervention significantly reduces wishcycling. Our findings highlight the importance of unambiguous instructions on behaving prosocially for effectively promoting public goods.en
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Publication statusacceptedVersion
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Review statusreviewed
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CitationKramer, E., Yoeli, E., & Rand, D. G. (in press). Counterproductive norms can be addressed via informational interventions: The case of 'wishcycling' [Author Accepted Manuscript]. Global Environmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.16357
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ISSN2750-6630
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/11769
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.16357
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychArchives
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/gep.16275
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Is version ofhttps://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/9v7aq_v1
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Is related tohttps://aspredicted.org/at24j.pdf
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Keyword(s)Social Norms
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Keyword(s)Recycling
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Keyword(s)Public Goods
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Keyword(s)Prosocial Behavior
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleCounterproductive norms can be addressed via informational interventions: The case of 'wishcycling' [Author Accepted Manuscript]en
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DRO typearticle
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Journal titleGlobal Environmental Psychology
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Visible tag(s)PsychOpen GOLD
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Visible tag(s)Accepted Manuscript