Expectations of others’ environmental behaviour and its effect on personal pro-environmental behaviour (Expectativas del comportamiento ambiental de otros y su efecto en la conducta proambiental personal)

The purpose of this study was to assess expectation surrounding other people’s pro- and anti-environmental behaviour to see whether it bears any relation to a person’s own pro-environmental behaviours. Two studies were conducted using an Expectation of Others’ Environmental Behaviour scale. The samples comprised Mexican respondents living in Mexico City and its conurbation with average ages of 35.19 and 35.05. Both studies showed that participants believe others are unlikely to act in a pro-environmental way but are instead likely to engage in anti-environmental behaviour. Both expectations (pro- and anti-environmental behaviour) had a positive effect on the participants’ own pro-environmental behaviour. The results are discussed from the perspective of social dilemmas, as well as the possibility of a uniqueness bias.