Question

"*Pallak* did research about low-balling and energy conservation. The results where that families didn't really save energy if they just got some information, and promised they would do it.

They did however do so, when the researcher told them their names would be publicized in a newpaper after a month. But later told them that he couldn't do this anymore. The results where that those families started to save even more energy!

Why?"
A) The families were motivated by the promise of recognition and continued their efforts.
B) The families were disheartened by the broken promise and increased their energy consumption.
C) The families were unaware of the promise and continued their energy-saving efforts.
D) The families were influenced by peer pressure from neighbors.

Answer 1

Option A is correct. Families were motivated by the initial promise of public recognition, which led them to begin saving energy. Even after learning they would not be publicized, these families maintained or increased their energy-saving behaviors, showing the powerful influence of initial commitment and the potential development of new habits.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario presented is a psychological experiment related to energy conservation and it highlights the reaction of families to different motivations. When families believed their efforts would be recognized publicly, they were more inclined to save energy.

Even when they were later told that their names would not be publicized, these families continued and even intensified their energy-saving efforts.

This suggests an answer pertinent to question's scenario is that these families were motivated by the initial promise of recognition and continued their efforts (Option A).

Peer pressure and the desire for public recognition are powerful motivators for behavior change. In the context of the initial commitment to save energy, their actions may have also become habitual, leading them to maintain or even enhance their energy-saving behaviors after the promise of public recognition was retracted.

Knowing that energy conservation helps with cutting costs especially when dealing with high-power, long-duration devices such as water heaters and air conditioners, might also play a role in sustaining their energy conservation efforts.