Promoting Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing

Journal of Social Issues, Fall, 2000 by Doug McKenzie-Mohr

Conclusion

To date, little attention has been paid to ensuring that psychological expertise regarding behavior change in general, and fostering sustainable behavior in particular, is shared with program planners. Substantial opportunities exist to work with these individuals in promoting a wide range of sustainable behaviors. As environmental psychologists we need to consider how best to share our expertise with program planners and ensure that our efforts are well integrated with their needs. Behavior change may be central to the transition to a sustainable future, but psychological knowledge has yet to become central to the development of initiatives to foster sustainable behavior.

(*.) Correspondence regarding this article should be addressed to Doug McKenzie-Mohr, Department of Psychology, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 5G3 [e-mail: McKenzie@StThomasU.ca].

DOUG MCKENZLE-MOHR is an environmental psychologist teaching at St. Thomas University. He has served as a member of the steering committee of Holis: The Society for a Sustainable Future, the education task force of the Canadian National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, and the technical advisory group for Sustain ABILITY. He is a coauthor of Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing.

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