(Don’t) mind the gap? The role of current versus desired state of goal attainment in predicting sustainable behavior

StatusVoR
Simple item page
dc.abstract.enUnderstanding what motivates individuals to engage in sustainable behavior is essential for advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs). Drawing on the cybernetic model of behavior regulation, this research investigates how the perceived gap between one’s desired level of societal progress towards sustainability and the current societal reality stimulates individuals’ action toward sustainability. Across two studies, we found that individuals’ desired state—not the current state—was the strongest predictor of both their willingness (Study 1) and actual engagement (Study 2) in sustainable behavior. Interestingly, individuals remained highly motivated to act sustainably even when SDGs were perceived as largely achieved. These effects extended beyond environmental concern to two other SDGs: health promotion and public safety. This suggests that, within the context of our studies, sustainable behavior seems to be meaningfully driven by personal goal alignment rather than current goal achievement in a society alone. Our findings offer a novel application of the cybernetic model to sustainable behavior and highlight the importance of interventions that connect sustainable actions with individuals’ personal values, aspirations, and identity. For policymakers and practitioners, this implies that fostering a sense of personal ownership and relevance of SDGs may be more effective than emphasizing societal progress alone.
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii w Sopocie
dc.contributor.authorKuźmińska, Anna
dc.contributor.authorGłomb, Kaja
dc.contributor.authorBłaszczyk, Piotr
dc.contributor.authorGąsiorowska, Agata
dc.contributor.authorRoczniewska, Marta
dc.date.access2026-10-23
dc.date.accessioned2026-10-26T09:34:36Z
dc.date.available2026-10-26T09:34:36Z
dc.date.created2026-03-14
dc.date.issued2026-10-23
dc.description.abstract<jats:p>Understanding what motivates individuals to engage in sustainable behavior is essential for advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs). Drawing on the cybernetic model of behavior regulation, this research investigates how the perceived gap between one’s desired level of societal progress towards sustainability and the current societal reality stimulates individuals’ action toward sustainability. Across two studies, we found that individuals’ desired state—not the current state—was the strongest predictor of both their willingness (Study 1) and actual engagement (Study 2) in sustainable behavior. Interestingly, individuals remained highly motivated to act sustainably even when SDGs were perceived as largely achieved. These effects extended beyond environmental concern to two other SDGs: health promotion and public safety. This suggests that, within the context of our studies, sustainable behavior seems to be meaningfully driven by personal goal alignment rather than current goal achievement in a society alone. Our findings offer a novel application of the cybernetic model to sustainable behavior and highlight the importance of interventions that connect sustainable actions with individuals’ personal values, aspirations, and identity. For policymakers and practitioners, this implies that fostering a sense of personal ownership and relevance of SDGs may be more effective than emphasizing societal progress alone.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumber2019/34/H/HS6/00597
dc.description.granttitleBridging Psychology with Societal Development Science: Fifty Countries Research into the Relation Between Folk Theories of Societal Development and Ideal Types of Well-Being.
dc.description.physical1-28
dc.description.sdgPartnershipForTheGoals
dc.description.sdgClimateAction
dc.description.sdgNoPoverty
dc.description.sdgZeroHunger
dc.description.sdgGoodHealthAndWellBeing
dc.description.sdgGenderEquality
dc.description.sdgQualityEducation
dc.description.sdgCleanWaterAndSanitation
dc.description.sdgAffordableAndCleanEnergy
dc.description.sdgDecentWorkAndEconomicGrowth
dc.description.sdgIndustryInnovationAndInfrastructure
dc.description.sdgReducedInequalities
dc.description.sdgSustainableCitiesAndCommunities
dc.description.sdgResponsibleConsumptionAndProduction
dc.description.sdgLifeBelowWater
dc.description.sdgLifeOnLand
dc.description.sdgPeaceJusticeAndStrongInstitutions
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume21
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.32872/spb.19807
dc.identifier.eissn2569-653X
dc.identifier.issn1896-1800
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2661
dc.languagepl
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.ensustainable behavior
dc.subject.ensustainable development goals
dc.subject.encybernetic model of behavior regulation
dc.subject.engoal-directed behavior
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.title(Don’t) mind the gap? The role of current versus desired state of goal attainment in predicting sustainable behavior
dc.title.journalSOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL BULLETIN (PSYCHOLOGIA SPOLECZNA)
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle