Appraising and reacting to voluntary green behavior at work: The effects of green motive attribution

Xue Zhang; Zhongqiu Li; Huilai Zhang; Qiwen Zhang

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1010588

Frontiers in Psychology (Sep 2022)

Appraising and reacting to voluntary green behavior at work: The effects of green motive attribution

Xue Zhang,
Zhongqiu Li,
Huilai Zhang,
Qiwen Zhang

Affiliations

Xue Zhang: College of Philosophy, Law and Political Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
Zhongqiu Li: College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
Huilai Zhang: School of Marxism, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin, China
Qiwen Zhang: College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1010588
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13

Abstract

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Starting from the perspective of social perception of voluntary employee green behavior (VEGB) and studies on the attribution of VEGB, we explore the phenomenon that employees can show different perceptions and behavioral responses to VEGB according to their attribution to VEGB. We served to examine the hypotheses. The results of a two-wave study show that when employees believe VEGB is motivated by instrumental concerns, VEGB is more likely to evoke a low level of warmth and competence, which produces less green advocacy. However, if employees believe VEGB is motivated by moral reasons, VEGB is more likely to prompt more warmth and competence perceptions and elicit greener advocacy from employees. In addition, theoretical and practical contributions are discussed.

Published in Frontiers in Psychology

ISSN: 1664-1078 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology

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