Generative concern memprediksi intensi pro-lingkungan melalui environmental guilt, ketika mortality salience berinteraksi dengan permasalahan antropogenik: Studi eksperimen acak pada emerging adults di Indonesia

Sukmo Bayu Suryo Buwono, Bhina Patria, Dr. rer. pol., M.A.

2023 | Tesis | S2 Psikologi

Studi eksperimen acak ini dilakukan secara daring dan dimaksudkan untuk menguji (1) sumbangsih positif dari generative concern sebagai determinan perilaku pro-lingkungan; (2) peran mediasi positif dari environmental guilt terhadap hubungan generative concern dan perilaku pro-lingkungan; dan (3) efek interaktif mortality salience dalam memperkuat hubungan positif generative concern, environmental guilt, dan perilaku pro-lingkungan, pada emerging adults. Sebanyak 354 emerging adults (18-29 tahun) yang direkrut dan ditugaskan secara acak ke dalam kelompok eksperimen 1, kelompok eksperimen 2, atau kelompok kontrol, berhasil mengikuti rangkaian penelitian hingga tuntas. Manipulasi eksperimen diberikan dengan model isyarat gabungan yang dikonseptualisasikan Terror Management Theory, dan terdiri atas tiga komponen: (1) priming permasalahan antropogenik; (2) priming mortality salience; dan (3) jeda tugas distraksi. Variasi perlakuan antara kedua kelompok eksperimen terletak pada framing informasi antropogenik. Kelompok kontrol mendapatkan rangkaian perlakuan setara, dengan tidak menyertakan konsep yang dimanipulasi. Partisipan mengerjakan skala generative concern, environmental guilt, dan intensi pro-lingkungan usai mengikuti rangkaian eksperimen. Berdasarkan pengujian asumsi, kelompok eksperimen pada akhirnya digabung menjadi satu; menyisakan 206 partisipan kelompok eksperimen dan 106 partisipan kelompok kontrol untuk dianalisis datanya. Tingginya generative concern pada emerging adults menjelaskan perilaku pro-lingkungan melalui environmental guilt, hanya ketika kesadaran mortalitas dibuat menonjol (mortality salience) dan berinteraksi dengan permasalahan antropogenik. Selain memperluas pemahaman mengenai kompleksitas dinamika hubungan generative concern dan perilaku pro-lingkungan yang bersifat kondisional, temuan ini menawarkan strategi untuk menstimulasi keterlibatan pro-lingkungan emerging adults di ranah publik. Temuan-temuan dan catatan penelitian, implikasi praktis, keterbatasan, serta arah studi mendatang didiskusikan secara lebih jauh.

This paper reports an online randomized experiment to shed light on (1) the positive contribution of generative concern in determining pro-environmental behavior; (2) the positive mediation of environmental guilt on the relationship between generative concern and pro-environmental behavior; and (3) the interactive effect of mortality salience in strengthening the positive relationship between generative concern, environmental guilt, and pro-environmental behavior, in emerging adults. A total of 354 emerging adults (aged 18-29) who were recruited and randomly assigned to either experimental group 1, experimental group 2, or control group, completed the study. The experimental manipulation was provided using the Terror Management Theory’s compound cue model to (1) prime anthropogenic problem; (2) prime mortality salience; and (3) give distraction tasks as a delay. Variation between the two experimental treatments was in the framing of anthropogenic information. The control group received an equivalent treatment, without including the manipulated concept. Participants’ generative concern, environmental guilt, and pro-environmental intentions were measured afterward. Based on the assumption tests, the experimental groups were merged into one; leaving 206 experimental group participants and 106 control group participants for data analysis. Higher generative concern in emerging adults predicts pro-environmental behavior through environmental guilt, only under mortality salience that interacts with anthropogenic problem. These findings expand our understanding about the complexity of the conditional relationship between generative concern and pro-environmental behavior, and offer strategies to stimulate emerging adults’ environmentalism in the public-sphere. Other findings and research notes, practical implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Kata Kunci : generative concern, environmental guilt, perilaku pro-lingkungan, pro-environmental behavior, efek interaktif mortality salience, the interactive effect of mortality salience, mortality salience, emerging adults