Citizen-Consumers and Evolution: Reducing Environmental Harm through Our Social Motivation

164 Pages·2013·0.805 MB·English

by  Mikael Klintman (auth.)

Citizen-Consumers and Evolution
DOI: 10.1057/9781137276803
Also by Mikael Klintman
ECO-STANDARDS, PRODUCT LABELLING AND
GREEN CONSUMERISM (co-authored with Magnus Bostrum)
DOI: 10.1057/9781137276803
Citizen-Consumers
and Evolution:
Reducing Environmental
Harm through Our
Social Motivation
Mikael Klintman
Lund University, Sweden
DOI: 10.1057/9781137276803
© Mikael Klintman 2013
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 20(cid:18)(cid:20) ISBN 978–1–137–27679–7
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First published 2013 by
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ISBN 978-1-349-44682-7 ISBN 978-1-137-27680-3 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/9781137276803
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Contents
List of Illustrations vii
Acknowledgements viii
 Introduction 
1.1 Re-inviting the concept of motivation 3
1.2 Taking social motivation seriously 5
 Th ree Approaches 
2.1 Citizen-consumers and rationality 19
2.2 Values as primary or secondary driving
forces 22
2.2.1 Th e ecological motivation approach 24
2.2.2 Th e material motivation approach 26
2.2.3 Th e social motivation approach 29
2.3 Refl ection versus refl exivity 33
2.4 Habitual or constantly recalculated
practices? 37
2.5 Conclusions and discussion 40
 Apollonian and Dionysian Trust 
3.1 Evolutionary theory and trust 45
3.2 Apollonian simple trust 49
3.3 Apollonian refl ective trust 56
3.4 Dionysian trust 58
3.4.1 Celebrities towards Dionysian trust 60
3.4.2 Social marketing towards Dionysian trust 61
DOI: 10.1057/9781137276803 v
vi Contents
3.4.3 Group-based interventions towards
Dionysian trust 63
3.5 Conclusions and discussion 65
 Rebound Eff ects and Spillovers 
4.1 Doing, saying, and believing as social
practice 71
4.1.1 Ecological hypocrisy 72
4.1.2 Constant material preferences 72
4.1.3 Socially consistent practices 73
4.2 Th e relationship between practices 75
4.2.1 Ecological consistency through knowledge 75
4.2.2 Constancy of material use 77
4.2.3 Response from the social motivation
approach 79
4.3 Conclusions and discussion 82
 Single Policy and Planning Issues 
5.1 Progressive, environmental policy making 87
5.2 Process is as important as outcome 93
5.3 Th e fundamental pillar of citizen activism 99
5.3.1 Motivations for individual and collective
action 101
5.3.2 Structure and (collective) agency 103
5.3.3 Collective action beyond the local level 107
5.4 Conclusions and discussion 108
 Wider Societal Change 
6.1 Alternative hedonism 112
6.2 Ecological citizenship 116
6.3 Degrowth 119
6.4 Conclusions and discussion 124
 Conclusions and Discussion 
References 
Index 
DOI: 10.1057/9781137276803
List of Illustrations
Figures
1.1 Social motivation 12
2.1 Social motivation in context 29
3.1 Social motivation, Dionysian and
Apollonian trust 67
Table
5.1 T ypes of green political consumerism 100
DOI: 10.1057/9781137276803 vii
Acknowledgements
During the preparation of this book, I was fortunate to
have the advice of several colleagues. Two contexts have
been particularly important for this book: From their vari-
ous disciplines, the twenty-fi ve researchers and the referent
group in the programme Governing Transitions Towards
Low-Carbon Energy and Transport Systems for 2050
(LETS 2050) have helped me fi nd much more interesting
questions than I would have been able to develop myself.
In the programme, I have collaborated particularly closely
with the programme leaders, Lars J. Nilsson and Annica
Kronsell, as well as with Björn Wendle, Jamil Khan, Johan-
nes Stripple, Lena Hiselius, and Roger Hildingsson.
Th e reference group of my work package – Dan
Melander, Jan Lindgren, Kerstin Heikenfeldt, Lars Jons-
son, Maj-Lis Svärd, Stina Nilsson, and Th erese Karlsson –
have provided me with important insights about practical
policy challenges and opportunities. LETS 2050 has been
fi nanced by Vinnova (Th e Swedish Governmental Agency
for Innovation Systems), Naturvårdsverket (Th e Swedish
Environmental Protection Agency), Energimyndigheten
(Th e Swedish Energy Agency), and Trafi kverket (Th e
Swedish Transport Administration) from 2009 to 2013.
In the project ‘Furthering Markets of Green and Ethical
Products: the Role of Retailers’, the participants – Oksana
Mont (project leader), Beatrice Kogg, Matthias Lehner,
Oksana Mont (project leader), and Olga Chkanikova – have
helped me refi ne issues about the relationships between
retailers and consumers. Th is project is part of the research
programme Hållbar Butik (Sustainable Retailing), and has
viii DOI: 10.1057/9781137276803
Acknowledgements ix
been funded by Formas (Swedish Research Council for Environment,
Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning) in collaboration with Handels
Utvecklingsråd (Th e Swedish Retail and Wholesale Development Coun-
cil) from 2010 to 2013.
Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge two organisations as impor-
tant discussion forums that have infl uenced this book: the fi rst is the
International Sociological Association (ISA), the Research Committee
on Environment and Society, RC24, where Magnus Boström and I have
served as secretaries (2010–2014). Th e second is the European Socio-
logical Association (ESA), the Research Network 12 on Environment
and Society, where I have served as elected board member (2009–2013).
Finally, my thanks go to Jenny, Leo, Bruno, Fred, and Matti for all the
insights they provide on a daily basis, and for being my main sources of
motivation.
DOI: 10.1057/9781137276803