The effects of social norms on motivation crowding: experimental evidence from the Tibetan Plateau

A growing literature examines conditions under which financial incentives for behavior change can undermine "crowd out" or reinforce ("crowd in") other sources of motivation for the behavior in question. Some of this literature points to a potential role of social norms, but it has not attempted to quantify that role. We present an interdisciplinary model from economics and communication science that measures the effects of financial incentives on social norms and their joint effects on behavior, including after incentives have ended. In a framed field experiment with Tibetan herders in Qinghai, China, we find that a temporary payment for participation in a patrol against illegal wildlife trapping reinforces a perceived injunctive norm that this conservation behavior meets with social approval. This norm remains heightened even after the payment has ended, continuing to positively influence the decision to participate in anti-trapping patrols in the experiment. This finding suggests that, under certain circumstances, a carefully framed incentive for conservation behavior can support injunctive norms in favor of conservation behavior.USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch project [MICL02244, MICL02173, MICL02362]; National Science Foundation [SMA-1328503]This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Homesick or Sick-of-Home? Examining the Effects of Self-Disclosure on Students’ Reverse Culture Shock after Studying Abroad: A Mixed-Method Study

This mixed-method study investigates the effects of self-disclosure and reverse culture shock among students returning from studying abroad. While previous literature examined the socio-cultural factors of re-entry, this study explores the role of communication in this readaptation process using a sample of 285 international college students returning home from different countries. Quantitative data showed that some of the dimensions of self-disclosure were significant predictors of reverse culture shock and difficulty during the four phases of re-entry. Qualitative findings revealed reasons for self-disclosure, as well as cultural and interpersonal challenges of sharing one’s experience when returning home. Implications and future directions are discussed to facilitate students’ re-entry through communicative practices like self-disclosure. © 2020 World Communication Association.18 month embargo; published online 11 January 2021This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

The Suasory Force of Sticky Messages: A Replication and Extension

Stickiness refers to a message’s persuasive properties: simple, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional, and stories (SUCCES). A sticky message is expected to be more memorable, and hence persuasive, for a longer duration than a non-sticky message. The present research tested this hypothesis first in a longitudinal experiment addressing the issue of applying sunscreen. Results showed a time × message induction non-additive effect such that the non-sticky message effect decayed more than the sticky message, but its explanation remains elusive. Thus, a second experiment was conducted, and prior results were replicated, with a potential explanation for the effect provided.18 month embargo; published online: 07 April 2022This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Long-Term Effects of Payments for Environmental Services: Combining Insights from Communication and Economics

Interdisciplinary analytical perspectives can bring important insights to address complex sustainability problems. In this paper we present and apply a model that integrates perspectives from economics and communication sciences to address the question of what happens to pro-environmental behavior after the introduction and then the withdrawal of payment for environmental services (PES). In particular, we discuss the effects of financial incentives on social norms and the effects of norms on subsequent behavior after incentives have ended. This is important because the dominant literature on PES lacks a sophisticated understanding of social norms and fails to address what will happen to behavior once payments end. That literature addresses the potential problem that payments can crowd out or possibly crowd in intrinsic sources of motivation for pro-social behavior, but it lacks the sophisticated understanding of social norms that has the potential to help explain and address this phenomenon. We summarize experimental evidence based on our model showing that introducing a financial incentive for behavior change can change social norms around that behavior. These norms, in turn, can continue to influence behavior even after incentives have ended. PES programs can address this situation by actively evoking existing social norms in favor of conservation

The benefits of distance and mediation: How people react to conflicts in video chat vs. FtF

Conflicts come as natural elements in human relationships and they are experienced in face-to-face as well as mediated interactions. Yet, it is unclear in which way and to which degree the modality of interaction influences the experience, the process, and the outcome of conflict communication. Comparing face-to-face and video chat encounters, the current experiment examined whether different communication modalities (video chat: mediated-distal vs. face-to-face: non-mediated-proximal) affect emotional arousal, partner evaluation, and communication satisfaction in conflict-laden interactions. Arousal was measured via self-report as well as physiological measures (interbeat interval, galvanic skin response). Results show that people who interacted via video chat reported less arousal than those who interacted face-to-face although there was no significant difference in physiological arousal measures. Also, those who interacted via video chat rated their partner and their conversation more positively. The findings suggest that, although some nonverbal signals were conveyed in both settings, the lack of mere physical co-presence in mediated encounters might be beneficial for conflict resolution. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The Effectiveness of Social Norm Appeals on Promoting COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors: A Multistudy Examination

Recent research shows social norm perceptions predict people’s adherence to COVID-19 preventative health practices. Nonetheless, additional empirical studies are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of different types of social norm messages on behavioral outcomes with experimental designs. Guided by the social norm literature and frameworks, the current research addresses this need by examining the effects of descriptive and injunctive norm appeals promoting the practice of social distancing and mask-wearing with both a controlled experiment and social media campaigns. Results from this multistudy investigation showed the effectiveness of descriptive and injunctive norm messages (v. no message exposure) in promoting focal behaviors and highlighted the superiority of injunctive norm appeals in promoting behavioral intentions and increasing social media engagement. Theoretical implications and recommendations for practice are discussed.18 month embargo; first published 19 November 2023This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]