Mitigating Present Bias with Immediate Narratives on Plastic Usage: An Experimental Study in Makassar City
Abstract
Prior research has demonstrated that present bias impedes the adoption of pro-environmental behaviors, such as reducing the consumption of single-use plastics in everyday life. Van der Linden (2015) found that those who utilize disposable plastics exhibit more vulnerability to present bias, displaying a preference for immediate convenience at the expense of long-term environmental consequences. Nevertheless, despite the urgent plastic waste problem in Indonesia, there is still a shortage of extensive literature on effective solutions to this issue. This study investigates whether immediate impact narratives on climate change can affect people's intentions to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic. Using a between-subject design experiment, 90 individuals were randomly divided into three groups. Group A was shown with a vignette containing narratives that conveyed the immediate impacts of climate change. Group B, on the other hand, was shown a vignette containing narratives that conveyed long-term impact of climate change. Group C did not receive any vignette. Afterwards, all participants filled out a questionnaire that assessed their intention to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic in the future. The findings revealed substantial disparities among the groups, with Group A demonstrating a greater intention to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics in comparison to Group B and C. These findings indicate that by using immediate impact narratives, present bias can be mitigated and effective interventions can eventually be devised to gradually reduce the consumption of single-use plastic in the long run.
Keywords
References
REFERENCES
Ariansyah, S. (2020) Menjaga Laut Makassar Bebas Sampah - EcoNusa, ECONUSA. Available at: https://econusa.id/id/ecoblog/menjaga-laut-makassar-bebas-sampah/ (Accessed: 6 October 2024).
Ariely, D. (2008) Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. Harper Collins.
Arifin, S. et al. (2023) ‘Bina Desa Mahasiswa Universitas Hasanuddin : Manajemen Food-Waste di Kota Makassar’, Proficio : Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat, 4(2), pp. 67–74.
Arnocky, S., Milfont, T.L. and Nicol, J.R. (2014) ‘Time Perspective and Sustainable Behavior: Evidence for the Distinction Between Consideration of Immediate and Future Consequences’, Environment and Behavior, 46(5), pp. 556–582. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916512474987.
Asia and Arifin, M.Z. (2017) ‘Dampak Sampah Plastik Bagi Ekosistem Laut’, Buletin Matric, 14(1), pp. 44–48. Available at: http://www.poltekkp-bitung.ac.id/batampung/file/7-pi-sampah-plastik.pdf.
Bamberg, S., Rees, J. and Seebauer, S. (2015) ‘Collective climate action: Determinants of participation intention in community-based pro-environmental initiatives’, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 43, pp. 155–165. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.06.006.
Boiral, O., Paillé, P. and Raineri, N. (2013) ‘The Nature of Employees’ Pro- Environmental Behaviors’, Etica e Politica, 15(1), pp. 583–605. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof.
Chandra, W. (2020) Sampah Plastik Ancam Ekosistem Laut Makassar, Mongabay. Available at: https://www.mongabay.co.id/2020/11/04/sampah-plastik-ancam-ekosistem-laut-makassar/.
Eom, K. et al. (2016) ‘Cultural Variability in the Link Between Environmental Concern and Support for Environmental Action’, Psychological Science, 27(10), pp. 1331–1339. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797616660078.
Frederick, S., Loewenstein, G. and O’Donoghue, T. (2002) ‘Time discounting and time preference: A critical review’, Time and Decision: Economic and Psychological Perspectives on Intertemporal Choice, XL(June), pp. 13–86. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1257/002205102320161311.
Geng, L. et al. (2015) ‘Connections with nature and environmental behaviors’, PLoS ONE, 10(5), pp. 1–11. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0127247.
Gifford, R. (2011) ‘The dragons of inaction: psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation’, American Psychological Association, 66(4), p. 290. Available at: https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2011-09485-005.
Gilovich, T. (2002) Heuristics and biases: The psychology of intuitive judgment. Cambridge University Press.
Harun, S.F. and Sokku, S.R. (2022) ‘Potential of Household Waste as an Alternative Energy Source in Makassar Indonesia’, International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science ISSN (Online): 2456-7361, 6(11), pp. 34–37.
Heidbreder, L.M. et al. (2019) ‘Tackling the plastic problem: A review on perceptions, behaviors, and interventions’, Science of the Total Environment, 668, pp. 1077–1093. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.437.
Indraswara, A.I.T., Hasan, Y.A. and Oner, B. (2021) ‘PERATURAN PENANGANAN SAMPAH PLASTIK DI KOTA MAKASSAR DALAM MENGATASI PERUBAHAN IKLIM’, Clavia Journals Universitas Bosowa, 09(02).
Jambeck, J.R. et al. (2015) ‘Entradas de residuos plásticos desde la tierra al océano’, Ciencia, 347(6223), pp. 768–771. Available at: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi/10.1126/science.1260879%0Ahttps://www.sciencemag.org/lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1260352.
Johnson, E.J. and Goldstein, D. (2003) ‘Do Defaults Save Lives?’, Science, 302(5649), pp. 1338–1339. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1091721.
Kahneman, D. (2011) Thinking Fast and Slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Katz, A. (2019) ‘Social Discounting of Clean Water and Environmental Sustainability’. Available at: https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/2619/%0Ahttps://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3634&context=theses.
Kautish, P. et al. (2021) ‘Understanding choice behavior towards plastic consumption: An emerging market investigation’, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 174(April), p. 105828. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105828.
Kennedy, E.H. et al. (2009) ‘Why We Don’t “Walk the Talk”: Understanding the Environmental Values/Behaviour Gap in Canada’, Human Ecology Review, 16(2), pp. 151–160. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/24707539.
Korteling, J.E., Paradies, G.L. and Sassen-van Meer, J.P. (2023) ‘Cognitive bias and how to improve sustainable decision making’, Frontiers in Psychology, 14(February). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1129835.
Lim, J.Y. and Moon, K.K. (2020) ‘Perceived environmental threats and pro-environmental behaviors: Investigating the role of political participation using a South Korean survey’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(9). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17093244.
van der Linden, S. (2015) ‘The social-psychological determinants of climate change risk perceptions: Towards a comprehensive model’, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 41, pp. 112–124. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.11.012.
Mugobo, V.V. and Ntuli, H. (2022) ‘Consumer Preference for Attributes of Single-Use and Multi-Use Plastic Shopping Bags in Cape Town: A Choice Experiment Approach’, Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(17). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710887.
Mun’im, A., Sappewali, S. and Wahyuni, A. (2022) ‘Identifikasi Pencemaran Limbah Di Sekitar TPA Antang Makassar Menggunakan Metode Geolistrik Resistivitas’, Dampak, 19(1), p. 17. Available at: https://doi.org/10.25077/dampak.19.1.17-21.2022.
Penn, J., Bastola, S. and Hu, W. (2022) ‘Nudging Away from Plastic Bags with Charitable Donations’, Land Economics, 98(1), pp. 132–149. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3368/le.98.1.011820-0007R1.
Purwaningrum, P. (2016) ‘View of UPAYA MENGURANGI TIMBULAN SAMPAH PLASTIK DI LINGKUNGAN.pdf’, Jurnal Teknik Lingkungan, 08(02), pp. 141–147. Available at: https://e-journal.trisakti.ac.id/index.php/urbanenvirotech/article/view/1421.
Raymond S. Nickerson (1998) ‘Confirmation bias: a ubiquitous phenomenon in many guises’, Review of General Psychology, 2(2), pp. 175–220.
Rivers, N., Shenstone-Harris, S. and Young, N. (2017) ‘Using nudges to reduce waste? The case of Toronto’s plastic bag levy’, Journal of Environmental Management, 188, pp. 153–162. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.12.009.
Strathman, A. et al. (1994) ‘The Consideration of Future Consequences’, Journal of personality and social psychology, 66(4), pp. 742–752. Available at: http://journals.ohiolink.edu/ejc/article.cgi?issn=00223514&issue=v66i0004&article=742_tcofc.
Tanveer, A. et al. (2021) ‘Do perceived risk, perception of self-efficacy, and openness to technology matter for solar pv adoption? An application of the extended theory of planned behavior’, Energies, 14(16). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/en14165008.
Taufiq, A. and Maulana, F. (2015) ‘Sosialisasi Sampah Organik Dan Non Organik Serta Pelatihan Kreasi Sampah’, Inovasi dan Kewirausahaan, 4(1), pp. 68–73.
Truelove, H.B. et al. (2014) ‘Positive and negative spillover of pro-environmental behavior: An integrative review and theoretical framework’, Global Environmental Change, 29, pp. 127–138. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.09.004.
Tversky, A. and Kahneman, D. (1974) ‘Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases’, 185(4157), pp. 1124–1131.
Unit Pelayanan Teknis Daerah (UPTD) Bank Sampah Makassar (2019) Bank Sampah Makassar Siapkan Sistem Digitalisasi Persampahan, Pemerintah Kota Makassar. Available at: https://makassarkota.go.id/bank-sampah-makassar-siapkan-sistem-digitalisasi-persampahan/.
van Valkengoed, A.M. and Steg, L. (2019) ‘Meta-analyses of factors motivating climate change adaptation behaviour’, Nature Climate Change, 9(2), pp. 158–163. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0371-y.
Walhi (2021) DARI HULU KE HILIR Persepsi dan Pengelolaan Sampah di Kawasan Strategis Nasional Mamminasata, Walhi. Available at: https://walhisulsel.or.id/3084-laporan-riset-sampah-kawasan-mamminasata/.
Widayat, W. et al. (2022) ‘Responsible Consumer Behavior: Driving Factors of Pro‐Environmental Behavior toward Post‐Consumption Plastic Packaging’, Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010425.
Wynes, S. et al. (2018) ‘Measuring what works: Quantifying greenhouse gas emission reductions of behavioural interventions to reduce driving, meat consumption, and household energy use’, Environmental Research Letters, 13(11). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aae5d7.
Article Statistic
Abstract view : 134 timesPDF views : 94 times
Dimensions Metrics
Article History
Submited : 9 October 2024Published : 16 April 2026
How To Cite This :
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Anhar Dana Putra, Muhammad Reza Firmansyah
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
