Adding to complexity: How a revived use of psychological theory can benefit attempts to stimulate change in patterns of personal travel

This paper seeks to broaden the view of psychological theory in research in behavioral change in transport as a way of responding to climate change. In recent years the use of psychological theory has been increasingly criticized for supporting individualizing, atomized and simplistic perspectives on change (Watson, 2012; Geels, 2012; Chatterton & Wilson, 2014; Schwanen, Banister & Anable, 2011). While welcoming this important and justified critique this article seeks to capture and defend the fundamental insights that these models have contributed to. The aim is to separate the baby from the bathwater and point to how theories of individual behavior and aggregate perspectives such as theories of practice can inform each other and result in enhanced methods. First the use of psychological theory in journal articles on behavioral change in transport is reviewed. A comprehensive theoretical review is used to point to strengths and weaknesses in current approaches. Lastly an informed eclectic approach is advocated by proposing an operational framework that draws on established theories of attitude and behavioral choice as well as cultivating a better understanding of practices involved in personal travel.

本文旨在拓展交通行为改变研究中心理学理论的应用视角，以作为应对气候变化的路径之一。近年来，心理学理论因秉持个体主义、碎片化且过于简化的变革视角而饱受诟病（Watson, 2012; Geels, 2012; Chatterton & Wilson, 2014; Schwanen, Banister & Anable, 2011）。在接纳这一重要且合理的批判的同时，本文旨在挖掘并捍卫此类模型所贡献的核心洞见。本研究旨在取其精华，去其糟粕，并阐明个体行为理论与实践理论等聚合视角如何实现互鉴，进而催生更完善的研究方法。首先，本文对交通行为改变相关期刊论文中心理学理论的应用情况展开综述；随后，本文将通过全面的理论综述，指出现有研究范式的优势与短板；最后，本文倡导采用兼具学术根基的折衷研究路径，提出一套可操作的研究框架：既吸纳态度与行为选择的成熟理论，同时深化对个人出行相关实践的理解。