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Bertolotti, M., Valla, L.G., & Catellani, P. (2023). A dual pathway to pro-environmental behavioural intention: Individual vs collective efficacy and their moderators. Psicologia Sociale, 18(3), 291-310.
Efficacy beliefs are crucial in motivating pro-environmental behavioural intentions. However, past research on how individual and collective efficacy may lead to pro-environmental behaviour intention has been limited.
In a study involving a representative sample (N = 500) of citizens of the Garda Lake area (Italy), we investigated how individual and collective efficacy were related to the intention to tackle climate change. We also tested whether perceived economic condition would moderate the effect of individual efficacy on intention and whether place identity would moderate the effect of collective efficacy on intention.
As predicted, individual efficacy positively predicted the intention to tackle climate change and this link was stronger among those in a more affluent economic condition (i.e., the instrumental pathway). Collective efficacy also positively predicted the intention to tackle climate change and this link was stronger among participants with higher place identity (i.e., the expressive pathway).
Discussion focusses on how pro-environmental behaviour can be promoted by appealing to citizens’ individual or collective efficacy, depending on their material conditions and social identity.