Abstract
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), the most salient environmentally responsible vehicles, can help to make the world cleaner and more livable. Although studies have yielded an impressive set of findings about consumers’ intention to purchase HEV from the perspective of economic, environmental, and social concerns, much less attention has been paid to self-related concerns for consumers’ intention to purchase HEVs. The present study investigated whether relative level of environmentalism and self-construal jointly predicted degree of interest in and intention to purchase HEVs. Seven hundred and fifty-two respondents (mainly from the U.S. and India) completed a survey, but the results for the different levels of environmental belief and self-construal were based on 289 participants. The results showed that level of environmentalism interacted with self-construal to predict the degree of interest in HEVs and intention to purchase HEVs. Post hoc tests revealed that among participants who had relatively low level of environmentalism, participants with interdependent self-construal had a greater degree of interest in HEVs and greater intention to purchase HEVs than did participants with independent self-construal. In contrast, among participants who had relatively high levels of environmentalism, participants with independent self-construal had a greater degree of interest in HEVs and greater intention to purchase HEVs than did participants with interdependent self-construal. However, the effect of the interaction between relative level of environmentalism and self-construal on intention to purchase HEVs was not significant when the degree of interest in HEVs was controlled.
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Notes
We would like to thank reviewer for this insightful contribution.
We would like to thank the reviewer for this insightful contribution.
Abbreviations
- ODT:
-
Optimal distinctiveness theory
- SCT:
-
Self-construal theory
- HEVs:
-
Hybrid electric vehicles
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Appendix
Appendix
SCS items
Independent self-construal (Singelis 1994) (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree)
I have respect for the authority figures with whom I interact.
It is important for me to maintain harmony within my group.
My happiness depends on the happiness of those around me.
I would offer my seat on a bus to my professor.
I respect people who are modest about themselves.
I will sacrifice my self-interest for the benefit of the group I am in.
I often have the feeling that my relationships with others are more important than my own accomplishments.
I should take into consideration my parents’ advice when making education/career plans.
It is important to me to respect decisions made by the group.
I will stay in a group if they need me, even when I’m not happy with the group.
If my brother or sister fails, I feel responsible.
Even when I strongly disagree with group members, I avoid an argument.
Independent self-construal (Singelis 1994) (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree)
I’d rather say “No” directly than risk being misunderstood.
Speaking up during a class in not a problem for me.
Having a lively imagination is important for me.
I am comfortable with being singled out for praise or rewards.
I am the same person at home that I am at school.
Being able to take care of myself is a primary concern for me.
I act the same way no matter who I am with.
I feel comfortable using someone’s first name soon after I meet them, even when they are much older than I am.
I prefer to be direct and forthright when dealing with people I’ve just met.
I enjoy being unique and different from others in many aspects.
My personal identity, independent of others, is very important for me.
I value being in good health above everything else.
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Dogan, V., Ozmen, M. Belief in Environmentalism and Independent/Interdependent Self-Construal as Factors Predicting Interest in and Intention to Purchase Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Curr Psychol 38, 1464–1475 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9705-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9705-6