Social-norm messaging and management of environmental cues
#00083
Shape the cues that drive littering: keep spaces visibly clean (a clean place signals 'nobody litters here'), and pair 'most people don't litter' (descriptive) with 'littering is not OK' (injunctive) messages, which together change behaviour more than either alone.
Cialdini et al. (field experiment), Petrified Forest National Park · Region
A controlled field experiment by Cialdini and colleagues at Petrified Forest National Park tested anti-theft signage on visitor paths where marked pieces of petrified wood were placed. A sign stressing a negative descri…
Theft of marked wood — 'theft is common' (negative descriptive norm) sign2.92 → 7.92% of marked pieces stolen
Theft of marked wood — prohibitive 'please don't' (injunctive norm) sign1.67% of marked pieces stolen