A process theory of norm information interventions

Abstract: People’s behaviors and attitudes are shaped by the observed actions and perceived expectations of others. Psychologists have long acknowledged the effects of social norms and in the last half-century, social norms have been the subject of extensive research across the social sciences. The predominant questions in the literature have focused on why social norms affect behaviors and attitudes, which norms are affective and when they are impactful. This paper explains how they work through the lens of cognitive process tracing. Across five studies, we test a memory-retrieval process theory of how social norm information affects policy support. We find that social norm information affects the order in which people evaluate their reasons to support or oppose a policy— norms of support cause supporting thoughts to cluster earlier. The effect on thought order leads to a higher or lower balance of support thoughts to align with the norm information. In Study 3, thought order is directly manipulated to test the causality of this mechanism. To establish ecological validity and generalize the findings to a new policy domain, Study 4 used a naturalistic information source, television news, to communicate the policy context and norm information. Results are robust across four different policy contexts and intervension medium. The effects of skepticism about information accuracy are discussed.

Jordana W. Composto, Aya Salim, & Elke U. Weber (in prep)

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

Abstract: Query Theory 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 also modeled by Prospect Theory and its functional or “as-if” account. Since its introduction in 2007, a series of studies have examined Query Theory 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 query theory 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]), (2) query theory 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]) to d = 0.39 (CI95 = [0.25,0.53]).

Jordana W. Composto, Shannon M. Duncan, Eric J. Johnson, & Elke U. Weber (under review)

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

Timely information about Carbon Capture and Storage can increase willingness to accept the technology by changing perceived risks and benefits

Abstract: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has recently received increased attention and investment for its potential role in the United States' efforts to meet net-zero targets. However, the public has very little awareness of CCS and its risks and benefits. Prior work suggests this leads to low public acceptance and that greater familiarity should breed a greater liking and reduced perceptions of risk; we offer the first piece of causal evidence of this relationship. In three experiments (n total = 5,500), we measure the effect of an informational intervention on perceived risks, perceived benefits, and acceptance of CCS projects. Our results suggest that well-timed information (e.g., prior to a siting decision) may improve public knowledge, especially of risks and benefits, to empower more informed decisions and attitudes about CCS. Early and ongoing engagement and information sharing can establish and maintain trust in the technology and associated stakeholders.

Composto, J. W., Greig, C., & Weber, E. W., Timely information about Carbon Capture and Storage can increase willingness to accept the technology by changing perceived risks and benefits (July 31, 2024). 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.