Unpacking Plastic: Investigating Plastic Related Ambivalence

Lena Hahn, Benjamin Buttlar and Eva Walther
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Lena Hahn: Department of Psychology, University of Trier, 54286 Trier, Germany
Benjamin Buttlar: Department of Psychology, University of Trier, 54286 Trier, Germany
Eva Walther: Department of Psychology, University of Trier, 54286 Trier, Germany

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-10

Abstract: Many people are aware of the negative consequences of plastic use on the environment. Nevertheless, they use plastic due to its functionality. In the present paper, we hypothesized that this leads to the experience of ambivalence—the simultaneous existence of positive and negative evaluations of plastic. In two studies, we found that participants showed greater ambivalence toward plastic packed food than unpacked food. Moreover, they rated plastic packed food less favorably than unpacked food in response evaluations. In Study 2, we tested whether one-sided (only positive vs. only negative) information interventions could effectively influence ambivalence. Results showed that ambivalence is resistant to (social) influence. Directions for future research were discussed.

Keywords: ambivalence; plastic; MouseTracker; intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2186-:d:501314

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