In a recent study about how to promote energy conservation, Nolan and colleagues (2008) found that simply telling people that their neighbors conserve energy was a more effective means of reducing energy consumption than telling them other reasons why they should conserve. Why did this message work the best?
A) Participants experienced cognitive dissonance.
B) Participants engaged in counterfactual thinking.
C) Participants were affected by informational social influence.
D) Participants were persuaded by fear appeals.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Participants were affected by informational social influence, which is the process of using others as a source of information and conforming to their behavior or beliefs. By learning that their neighbors were conserving energy, participants may have felt pressure to conform to social norms or expectations, leading to a greater likelihood of engaging in energy conservation themselves. This is known as the "neighbor effect" in social psychology.

In a Recent Study About How to Promote Energy Conservation