Professor Elke Weber and co-authors Shahzeen Attari and David Krantz studied factors "affecting the adoption of personal energy conservation behaviors and endorsement of energy conservation goals proposed for others." Two internet surveys show asymmetrical responses between goals for self and others. One possible explanation for the asymmetry is "The asymmetry may reflect genuine differences between actions feasible for the individual, given his or her situation, from those perceived as feasible for the average American. Thus, the asymmetry may not be motivated by selfishness of by a social-dilemma calculus, but may be dictated by situational constraints"
Why Americans show the asymmetry in adopting energy conservation?
Professor Elke Weber and co-authors Shahzeen Attari and David Krantz studied factors "affecting the adoption of personal energy conservation behaviors and endorsement of energy conservation goals proposed for others."