Practice-ing behaviour change: Applying social practice theory to pro-environmental behaviour change

This article applies the insights of social practice theory to the study of proenvironmental behaviour change through an ethnographic case study (nine months of participant observation and 38 semi-structured interviews) of a behaviour change initiative — Environment Champions — that occurred in a workplace. In contrast to conventional, individualistic and rationalist approaches to behaviour change, social practice theory de-centres individuals from analyses, and turns attention instead towards the social and collective organization of practices — broad cultural entities that shape individuals’ perceptions, interpretations and actions within the world. By considering the planning and delivery of the Environment…

• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

  Award: EP/F022832/1
• EA
  Economic and Social Research Council

  Award: ES/G021007/1