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Words not deeds: National narcissism, national identification, and support for greenwashing versus genuine proenvironmental campaigns

Cislak, Aleksandra, Cichocka, Aleksandra, Wojcik, Adrian Dominik, Milfont, Taciano L. (2021) Words not deeds: National narcissism, national identification, and support for greenwashing versus genuine proenvironmental campaigns. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 74 . Article Number 101576. ISSN 0272-4944. (doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101576) (KAR id:91738)

Abstract

Past research indicates that national narcissism (but not national identification) predicts support for anti- environmental policies, and that this effect is driven by national narcissists’ need to defend the group’s image. We hypothesized that although national narcissists might not support proenvironmental actions, they would support promoting a proenvironmental image of their nation (i.e., greenwashing). In five studies (overall N =2231), we demonstrated that individuals high in national narcissism were less likely to support actual proenvironmental actions (Studies 2–5), but more likely to support greenwashing campaigns (Studies 1–3, 5), although not when greenwashing would involve financial costs incurred by the ingroup (Study 4). In Study 5, national narcissism predicted support for greenwashing as a political strategy—it was related to the preference for green image enhancement over green actions (controlling for proenvironmental attitudes and individual narcissism). We did not observe similar effects for national identification or right-wing political ideology. Im-plications for promoting proenvironmentalism across distinct groups are discussed.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101576
Uncontrolled keywords: Greenwashing, National narcissism, National identification, Environmental decisions, Public campaigns
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Aleksandra Cichocka
Date Deposited: 26 Nov 2021 12:58 UTC
Last Modified: 29 Nov 2021 11:18 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/91738 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Cichocka, Aleksandra.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1703-1586
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