Korteling, J. E. H., Paradies, G. L., &
Sassen-van Meer, J. P. (2023).
Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1129835.
Abstract
The rapid advances of science and technology have provided a large part of the world with all conceivable needs and comfort. However, this welfare comes with serious threats to the planet and many of its inhabitants. An enormous amount of scientific evidence points at global warming, mass destruction of bio-diversity, scarce resources, health risks, and pollution all over the world. These facts are generally acknowledged nowadays, not only by scientists, but also by the majority of politicians and citizens. Nevertheless, this understanding has caused insufficient changes in our decision making and behavior to preserve our natural resources and to prevent upcoming (natural) disasters. In the present study, we try to explain how systematic tendencies or distortions in human judgment and decision-making, known as “cognitive biases,” contribute to this situation. A large body of literature shows how cognitive biases affect the outcome of our deliberations. In natural and primordial situations, they may lead to quick, practical, and satisfying decisions, but these decisions may be poor and risky in a broad range of modern, complex, and long-term challenges, like climate change or pandemic prevention. We first briefly present the social-psychological characteristics that are inherent to (or typical for) most sustainability issues. These are: experiential vagueness, long-term effects, complexity and uncertainty, threat of the status quo, threat of social status, personal vs. community interest, and group pressure. For each of these characteristics, we describe how this relates to cognitive biases, from a neuro-evolutionary point of view, and how these evolved biases may affect sustainable choices or behaviors of people. Finally, based on this knowledge, we describe influence techniques (interventions, nudges, incentives) to mitigate or capitalize on these biases in order to foster more sustainable choices and behaviors.
Here are some thoughts:
The article explores why, despite widespread scientific knowledge and public awareness of urgent sustainability issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, there is still insufficient behavioral and policy change to effectively address these problems. The authors argue that cognitive biases--systematic errors in human thinking-play a significant role in hindering sustainable decision--making. These biases evolved to help humans make quick decisions in immediate, simple contexts but are poorly suited for the complex, long-term, and abstract nature of sustainability challenges.
Sustainability issues have several psychological characteristics that make them particularly vulnerable to cognitive biases. These include experiential vagueness, where problems develop slowly and are difficult to perceive directly; long-term effects, where benefits of sustainable actions are delayed while costs are immediate; complexity and uncertainty; threats to the status quo and social standing; conflicts between personal and community interests; and social pressures that discourage sustainable behavior. The article highlights specific cognitive biases linked to these characteristics, such as hyperbolic discounting (the preference for immediate rewards over future benefits), normalcy bias (underestimating the likelihood and impact of disasters), and the tragedy of the commons (prioritizing personal gain over collective welfare), along with others like confirmation bias, the endowment effect, and sunk-cost fallacy, all of which skew judgment and impede sustainable choices.
To address these challenges, the authors recommend interventions that leverage or counteract these biases through environmental and contextual changes rather than solely relying on education or bias training. Techniques such as nudges, incentives, framing effects, and emphasizing benefits to family or in-groups can make sustainable choices easier and more appealing. The key takeaway is that understanding and addressing cognitive biases is essential for improving sustainable decision-making at both individual and policy levels. Policymakers and organizations should design interventions that account for human psychological tendencies to foster more sustainable behaviors effectively.