Astrid Dannenberg (University of Kassel): " The willingness to intervene – Experimental evidence on confronting cigarette littering".

Abstract:

Whether people actively intervene in socially harmful behavior, which factors predict this decision, and whether the decision can be influenced has been little studied so far. Here, we investigate these questions using the example of cigarette littering, a behavior that is ecologically, economically, and socially harmful, yet widespread in many countries. The results, which are based on a survey experiment combined with experimental field data from Germany, show that the willingness to intervene is generally rather low, especially when people lack intrinsic motivation, are accustomed to cigarette littering, and do not have small children. We also find that the willingness to intervene is fundamentally different from the willingness to pay for a public awareness campaign that calls on others to intervene. These two decisions are not correlated and they differ in their determinants and their responsiveness to appeals or the provision of information.