Social norm interventions affect policy support by directing attention and memory-search in the policy evaluation process

Abstract: Despite extensive evidence that social norms influence attitudes and behaviors, the cognitive mechanisms underlying these effects remain underexplored. This research applies query theory to investigate the cognitive processes by which norm information influences policy support. Across five preregistered studies (total n = 2,722) we employed a type-aloud procedure to investigate how norm information shapes thought order and content during policy evaluation. Study 1, using a hypothetical policy context, found that supportive (versus opposing) norm information led to earlier clustering and a greater proportion of supportive thoughts, mediating higher policy support. Studies 2a-c extended this to real policy topics, except among skeptics about these familiar and politically polarized issues. Study 3 replicated these findings and extended them with norm information provided by naturalistic stimuli from real television news clips about large-scale solar farms. As hypothesized, norm information influenced which thoughts come to mind first during policy evaluation and the proportion of supportive thoughts. Notably, when participants were skeptical of the information (particularly in familiar policy domains) norm information did not affect policy support or thought process. Study 4 tested the causal role of query order by prompting respondents to reverse the order of queries from their "natural" order (i.e., the order aligned with provided norm information); this reversal attenuated the effect of norm information on policy support. Supplemental Study 5 confirmed the type-aloud procedures paradigm validity. These studies illuminate one cognitive mechanism through which normative information shapes policy support, with results that are particularly relevant for emerging technologies and policies where public knowledge is limited.

Jordana W. Composto, Aya Salim, & Elke U. Weber (under review)

A Meta-Analysis of Query Theory, a Psychological Process Account of Framing Effects

Abstract: Query Theory (QT) offers a psychological process theory of preference construction that shows how attentional processes and memory dynamics give rise to framing effects and other judgment and choice anomalies. These same anomalies are also modeled by Prospect Theory (PT) and its functional or "as-if" account, particularly through its feature of loss aversion. Given the lack of clear evidence that loss aversion results from differences in emotional reactions to gains versus losses, it is worth asking whether QT’s process account—which explains framing effects as resulting from attentional shifts and subsequent differences in memory retrieval—provides a psychological process account of the loss-aversion feature of PT. Since QT’s introduction in 2007, a series of studies have examined its accounts of framing effects in risky choice, intertemporal choice, and multi-attribute decisions. The present review used meta-analytic techniques to evaluate the main claims of QT by synthesizing findings from 27 papers. Across three meta-analyses, we find that (1) decision frame significantly affects query order (d = 0.34, CI95 = [0.27,0.41], n = 11,202), (2) QT mechanisms (query order and content) partially mediate the effect of decision frame on choice, and (3) manipulating query order decreases the effect of decision frame on choice from d = 0.92 (CI95 = [0.74,1.09], n = 1,680) to d = 0.39 (CI95 = [0.25,0.53], n = 1,720).

Composto, J. W., Duncan, S. M., Johnson, E. J., & Weber, E. U. (2025). A meta-analysis of query theory, a psychological process account of framing effects. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11166-025-09458-6

Virtuous cycles of organizational climate action: A multi-level view of pro-environmental behavior in the workplace

Abstract: Addressing the global climate crisis requires expansive behavior change across domains. Behavioral science research has focused disproportionately on changing individual behavior in the home and as a consumer. This review focuses on individual behavior change in an organizational context (i.e., in the workplace) and the virtuous cycles that can emerge. By reviewing the recent literature on this topic, this review offers a multi-level framework that integrates individual, social, and organizational factors that shape pro-environmental behavior in the workplace. The literature has focused on the discrete effects of the individual, social, and organizational factors on behavior and this review summarizes the main findings at each level. The review underscores the potential of organizational culture, including green human resource management and leadership, to foster systemic change. There is a paucity of research on the inter-level dynamics and the collective and temporal dynamics in this area. Future research is called upon to further develop and refine behavioral measurement tools in the organizational context. 

Composto, J. W. (2025). Virtuous cycles of organizational climate action: a multilevel view of pro-environmental behavior in the workplace. Current Opinion in Behavioral Science, 61, 101468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2024.101468

Predictors and consequences of pro-environmental behavior at work

Abstract: Increasingly, people are looking for meaning through their jobs, for employers that have a positive impact on the world, and for workplaces that promote mission-driven behavior. One such mission that is a growing priority is addressing climate change, especially for younger cohorts entering the workforce. Addressing the climate crisis will necessitate substantial changes at all levels of society, including organizational change. This paper examines individual, social, and contextual variables that are associated with pro-environmental behavior (PEB). In a large survey of employees from high and low greenhouse gas emitting sectors (N = 3,041), we examine the predictors of work PEB and the relationship between work PEB and job satisfaction. We find that the strongest predictors of work PEB index are similar behavior in another domain (measured as home PEB index), perceived organizational support for the environment, personal attitudes about environmental responsibility, reported identity overlap with coworkers, and level of education. Perceptions about the social and corporate support of an environmental mission predict work PEB even after accounting for the influence of individual factors, including environmental attitudes, suggesting that they are associated with increased work PEB for employees with both high and low concern about climate change. We also find that higher work PEB is associated with greater job satisfaction. This suggests that there may be a virtuous cycle between companies’ mission-driven actions and policies and employee perceptions, behavior, and personal and corporate well-being, with potential implications for employee engagement and retention.

Composto, J. W., Constantino, S. M., & Weber, E. U. (2023). Predictors and consequences of pro-environmental behavior at work. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4, 100107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100107

Determinants of pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours in the digital era: The case of workers in high-emitting industries in Germany

Abstract: Addressing the interconnected challenges of digital futures and environmental pressures demands a deep understanding of human decision-making and the factors that influence sustainable behavioural change and adaptation. This study examines the drivers of pro-environmental attitudes (PEAs) and behaviours (PEBs) among workers in Germany in sectors with substantial environmental impacts, such as digital technology, mobility, and manufacturing. We focus on this worker population due to their critical role in shaping workplace values, visions, and actions and the importance of establishing inclusive and thoughtful workplace environments and structures that enhance their engagement and wellbeing, given the tensions and expectations associated with their line of work. Analyzing survey responses from 297 workers using linear regression modelling, we find varying and nuanced impacts of personal convictions, experiences, wellbeing, entrepreneurialism, and perceptions of social norms and organizational support on PEAs and various PEBs. Our results highlight the importance of purpose, leadership, emotional resilience, and inclusion in fostering a shift towards environmentally conscious practices. This research aims to guide workers, managers, and policymakers in the design of workplaces that promote, rather than hinder, ecological sustainability.

Rashid, L., Composto, J. W., & Weber, E. U. (2025). Determinants of pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours in the digital era: The case of workers in high-emitting industries in Germany. In T. Kox, A. Ullrich, & H. Zech (Eds.), Uncertain Journeys into Digital Futures (pp. 99–128). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783748947585-99 

Risk as Feelings Mediates Acceptance of New Technologies Across Trust Landscapes: From Nuclear Power to Carbon Capture and Storage

Abstract: Meeting global climate goals requires deployment of a portfolio of technologies, each delivering critical emissions reductions, yet public acceptance often determines whether those solutions scale rapidly or stall. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) exemplifies this challenge, as deployment faces limited public awareness and sometimes opposition despite scientific consensus on its necessity. We investigated how science communication affects public acceptance of CCS through established risk perception mechanisms in three experiments with 5,500 participants, including a nationally representative sample and residents living near existing or planned CCS facilities. An informational intervention explaining CCS technology and deployment significantly increased willingness to accept local CCS projects (b = 0.16, p < 0.001), with effects persisting for at least one week. Mediation analysis revealed that increased acceptance operated through parallel reductions in two fundamental risk dimensions: perceived “unknown-ness” and “dread”, which together accounted for 35% of the intervention’s total effect. Participants living near existing CCS facilities showed higher baseline CCS acceptance but similar responsiveness to science communication, indicating that proximity to an existing site alone does not determine acceptance. Trust in institutions and perceived public trust predicted higher acceptance but did not moderate intervention effectiveness, suggesting science communication works effectively across diverse trust contexts when familiarity with the technology is low. These findings provide experimental evidence that proactive, scientifically-informed communication during early technology deployment can shape public acceptance of emerging climate technologies and inform strategies for facilitating informed public engagement with new energy infrastructure.

Composto, J. W., Greig, C., & Weber, E. W., Risk as Feelings Mediates Acceptance of New Technologies Across Trust Landscapes: From Nuclear Power to Carbon Capture and Storage (Oct 1, 2025). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4911410

Changing Norms of Trust

Abstract: Trust strengthens people's confidence in a stable society and their willingness to perform prosocial behaviors, such as getting vaccinated or protecting a livable climate and environment. This review proposes a framework of how norms of trust change during times of uncertainty and collective threat. Norms of trust influence expectations toward another's actual or acceptable behavior in interdependent contexts and thus inform an individual's level of trust. These expectations are based on experienced behavior, norm-based beliefs about the counterparty, and/or projections about what oneself would do in a given situation. A match or mismatch between expectations and the experienced behavior of others (both individuals and institutions) during interactions in new environments either affirm or weaken norms of trust.

Composto, J. W., Bielig, M., Bruns, C., & Weber, E. U. (2025). Changing Norms of Trust. Current Opinion in Psychology, 62, 102004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2025.102004

From Ambition to Reality: Net Zero at the Speed of Trust

This white paper was written in collaboration with industry partners and is part of a multi-year project to understand the role of trust in the energy transition: https://www.worley.com/en/insights/our-thinking/energy-transition/from-ambition-to-reality

Annual Stakeholder Survey on Delivering Net Zero

I lead an annual stakeholder survey that measures five key shifts that are necessary for a speedy energy transition. The survey targets a diverse range of stakeholders involved in, or impacted by, the clean energy transition around the world. Such stakeholders include energy companies, project developers, EPC Contractors, consulting firms, equipment OEMs, landowners and communities, NGOs, labor organizations, financiers, educators, regulators, and policymakers.

Year One Results White Paper: https://netzerostakeholder.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf3566/files/documents/PU_NZ_Stakeholder_White_Paper_2024.pdf

Project website: https://netzerostakeholder.princeton.edu/

Organizational Narratives about Climate Change Commitments

Abstract: Reaching global climate goals indisputably requires rapid and drastic change from the private sector. The last decade has seen an increase in the number of climate commitments (i.e., divesting from fossil fuels) from organizations. Across four studies, we investigate the features of these commitments and how they affect attitudes of employees and the general public. We conduct two conjoint experiments (Ntotal = 2,522) to examine preference for the type of information included in climate commitments and the features of the organization. Both employees and the general public prefer policies with specific information about cost/investment and specific information about timeline. This pattern holds for policy preference, trust the commitment will be met, perceived support from the American public, and perceived climate impact. Participants prefer commitments that are contextualized by the company’s track record on the environment compared to those with no information. and commitments from large organizations compared to medium sized organizations. There is also a strong preference for policies about investment in clean or renewable energy compared to commitments about divesting from fossil fuels. Across both studies, specific information about the time and cost/investment of the climate commitment are the most important attributes in determining policy preference. In the second pair of studies, we collect a corpus of real world climate commitments made by 114 major financial institutions (N = 732). In Study 3, we code the real climate commitments for the crucial features and find that 49.6% include monetary information, 46.8% include emissions information, and 26.4% include timeline information. Prior to 2021, monetary information is most commonly included in commitments but in 2021, emissions information is most common. In Study 4, we conduct a discourse analysis and find that the ‘energy transition’ is the most common topic, followed by ‘low carbon energy’.

Composto, J. W., & Constantino, S. M. (in prep). 

Key stakeholders favor multi-pronged policy mixes to achieve the energy transition

Abstract: To successfully achieve ambitious global climate goals, including the net zero energy transition, stakeholders from the public and private sectors must collaborate to pursue multiple parallel policy solutions. In two studies, we examine how experts engaged in the net zero energy transition (n = 430) and experts on carbon capture and sequestration projects (n = 504) support a range of policies and judge the responsibility of multiple actors in their respective domains. We investigate the mental models that shape experts’ perceived solution-sets—in particular, whether they hold a single- or a multi-solution schema and find that experts hold multi-solution and multi-actor mental models. Net zero experts express the most support for the policy tools of funding research, requiring reporting, and ambitious mandatory energy efficiency standards and assign the highest actor responsibility to corporations, national governments, and state/local governments. Carbon capture and sequestration experts express the most support for the policy tools of low carbon fuel standards and annual federal funding for projects and assign the highest actor responsibility to state/local governments, national government, environmental organizations, and companies. Using network analysis, we identify clusters of policy and actor preference and show the correlations between support of different items. In both samples, we find that perceptions of greater public support predict higher policy support and actor responsibility ratings. Taken together, the individual- and network-level analyses reveal that experts are, overall, open to multi-pronged solutions, but that the exact solutions set is heterogeneous and reveals different cooperative paths to ambitious climate goals.

Composto, J. W., Greig, C., & Weber, E. U. Key stakeholders favor multi-pronged policy mixes to achieve the energy transition. (R&R)

Effectiveness of behavioural interventions to reduce household energy demand: a scoping review

Abstract: This paper provides a scoping review of behavioural interventions that target household energy demand. We evaluate 584 empirical papers that test the effectiveness of a behavioural intervention to change behaviour associated with household energy demand. The most studied behavioural tools are providing timely feedback and reminders and making information intuitive and easy to access, followed by (in order) communicating a norm, reframing consequences, making behaviour observable, obtaining a commitment, setting proper defaults, and transitions and habit disruption. The most studied demand-side behaviour is electricity use. There is high heterogeneity in effect sizes. We classified the target behaviours of each study as avoid, shift, or improve behaviours and find that avoid behaviours (in particular, reducing electricity usage) are the predominant focus of researchers. The effectiveness of interventions differs across avoid, shift, and improve responses and by the behavioural tool. Specifically, shifting behaviours are less effectively motivated than avoiding behaviours by using an information intervention but more effectively by using a norm intervention. We review the literature to provide further information about which behavioural tools are most effective for specific contexts. The effectiveness of most behavioural tools are augmented when they are used in the right combination with other tools. We recommend that researchers focus future work on high impact behaviours and the evaluation of synergistic combinations of behavioural interventions.

Composto, J. W., & Weber, E. U. (2022). Effectiveness of behavioural interventions to reduce household energy demand: A scoping review. Environmental Research Letters, 17(6), 063005. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac71b8

This work was also featured in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), ed. Demand, Services and Social Aspects of Mitigation. In: Climate Change 2022 - Mitigation of Climate Change: Working Group III Contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press; 2023:503-612.

The effective impact of behavioral shifts in energy, transport, and food

Highlights: 

• Meeting global climate targets requires widespread shifts in human behavior. Research to date has emphasized individual-level behavior change.  

• To quantify the achievable emissions reductions through individual behavior change, this study combines research on the projected emissions impact of key behaviors with data on the feasibility of changing those behaviors through behavioral interventions.  

• Behavioral interventions demonstrate modest but consistent success, increasing target behaviors by 10 percentage points compared to control groups.  

• Intervention design matters: analysis of intervention methods reveals that choice architecture and commitment devices are the most impactful tools, while information-based approaches (e.g., carbon footprint calculators) are among the least.  

• While combined behavioral changes could theoretically offset all the average global citizen’s per capita emissions, real world, individual-level interventions typically achieve only 10% of that—highlighting the need for both individual actions and systemic supports.  

• Four “Priority Shifts” emerge as highest-impact behaviors:  Reducing gas-powered vehicle use, Decreasing air travel, Lowering residential fossil fuel consumption, and Reducing animal product consumption.

• The impact difference between behaviors is massive—eliminating car use reduces emissions 78 times more effectively than composting.  

• Realizing the emissions reduction possible will require focusing on Priority Shifts, effective tools and policy, and industry support.

Kraft-Todd, G.,  Hernandez, M., Composto, J. W. (2025). The Effective Impact of Behavioral Shifts in in Energy, Transport and Food: A global quantitative synthesis of the greenhouse gas emission reduction potential of behavioral changes in the transportation, energy, and food sectors. World Resource Institute. https://doi.org/10.46830/wriwp.21.00151

Additional coverage: 

19 Ways to Help the Climate, Ranked. WRI. https://www.wri.org/insights/climate-friendly-choices-ranked

Video abstract: https://www.wri.org/research/effective-impact-behavioral-shifts

The Most Impactful Things You Can Do for the Climate Aren’t What You’ve Been Told. WRI. https://www.wri.org/insights/climate-impact-behavior-shifts