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Does Committing to Green Goals Always Lead to Impactful Action? An Identity-Goal Perspective
Katarzyna Byrka1, Simona Sciara2, Johannes T Doerflinger3,4
1SWPS University, Wroclaw, Poland.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Environmental identity can lead to "slacktivism," where people take easy actions with little impact. Committing to a "green person" identity may require self-regulation strategies for sustained environmental action.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Environmental Studies
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Many individuals value environmental protection as a moral imperative.
- Consistent pro-environmental behavior in daily life presents challenges despite this value.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore why individuals with environmental goals may opt for low-impact actions.
- To examine the role of identity-goal perspective in environmental behavior.
- To discuss self-regulation strategies for effective environmental action.
Main Methods:
- The study adopts an identity-goal perspective.
- It analyzes psychological patterns influencing environmental choices.
- It discusses self-regulation strategies.
Main Results:
- Environmental identity can lead to "slacktivism," where individuals feel they have done enough, reducing further effort.
- Individuals may choose superficial actions for immediate self-validation over impactful, effortful ones.
- This pattern hinders sustained environmental protection efforts.
Conclusions:
- Committing to a "green person" identity goal may be beneficial but has potential downsides.
- Effective self-regulation strategies are needed to overcome barriers to sustained, impactful environmental action.
- Addressing slacktivism is crucial for meaningful environmental progress.
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