Datasets of Envisaging Mitigation Action can Induce Lower Discounting toward Future Environmental Gains and Promote Pro-environmental Behavior

We conducted two laboratory experiments to test whether engaging in EFT regarding mitigating action would reduce the tendency to discount the future and increase the tendency to perform pro-environmental behavior. Specifically, Experiment 1 examined whether engaging in EFT to envisage life events related to mitigating action is associated with a lower level of discounting toward future environmental gains and a higher likelihood of using air conditioning in an energy-saving manner. Experiment 2 was a replication study in which the effects of engaging in mitigation-EFT on other pro-environmental behaviors (e.g., adopting a diet with lower environmental impact and participating in a beach cleaning activity) were examined. Additionally, the mediating role of discounting in the relationship between engaging in mitigation-EFT and pro-environmental behavior was tested.

本研究开展两项实验室实验，旨在检验参与与减缓行动相关的情景未来思维（Episodic Future Thinking，EFT）是否能够降低个体的未来折现倾向，并提升其亲环境行为的执行倾向。具体而言，实验1考察了：通过情景未来思维演练想象与减缓行动相关的生活事件，是否与更低的未来环境收益折现率、更高的节能空调使用概率存在显著关联。实验2为重复验证研究，检验了参与减缓型EFT对其他亲环境行为（例如：采用环境影响更低的饮食模式、参与海滩清洁活动）的影响效应。此外，本研究还检验了时间折现在减缓型EFT参与度与亲环境行为之间的中介作用。