How much is too much? Defining overconsumption of goods and natural resources Dave Kolar Results Measures ResultsMethods Participants Discussion Introduction  Activists, scientists, and politicians have expressed concerns about the over-use of natural resources, global warming, and other environmental issues for many years (Weber & Stern, 2011).  Oskamp (2000) notes that many of the threats to Earth’s environment are caused by human behavior, in particular, overpopulation and overconsumption.  Researchers have evaluated many ways to change attitudes and behaviors about the environment including changing schemas (Clayton & Brook, 2005) as well as using social norms (Cialdini, Reno, & Kallgren, 1990), persuasive communication (Pelletier & Sharp, 2008), and cognitive dissonance (see Osbaldiston & Schott, 2012).  While many would agree the U.S. and other wealthy countries are consumption-based societies that overconsume products and resources (Hamilton, 2010), there is little in the research literature regarding how most people define overconsumption.  The purpose of the current research is to begin to define overconsumption and answer the question: How much is too much? Participants were recruited from Introductory Psychology courses as well as solicitations and Facebook posts. Sample Characteristics (N=84) Results How much is the absolute minimum to have, sufficient for comfortable life, and excessive or overconsumption? Participants then read the following statement: We are interested in determining how many or how much of certain things people consider to be (a) an absolute minimum to have, (b) sufficient for a comfortable life, and (c) excessive or overconsumption. For each item, please type in the number for each of the 3 categories that you think is appropriate. Participants then provided responses for these items: 1)Number of TV’s per 4 person household. 2)Number of computers per 4 person household. 3)Number of video game consoles per 4 person household. 4)Number of portable electronic devices (MP3’s, handheld game consoles, tablet computers) per person. 5)Number of cars per person. 6)Length of one shower in minutes per person. 7)Number of cell phones per person. 8)Number of disposable plastic bottles (soda, water, etc.) used per week per person. 9)Number of times an individual uses a towel before placing it in the laundry. What do you think overconsumption is?  Most participants believe overconsumption consists of taking more than you need or taking too much. Because only 16 responses referred to sustainability, future research should evaluate avenues to encourage people to equate overconsumption with environmental issues.  Food and Fossils Fuels (Gas, Oil, Coal) are over- consumed the most according to participants. Future research should look more specifically at food and how participants believe it may (or may not) be tied to environmental issues.  A more representative U.S. sample as well as samples from other cultures would make future research in this area stronger. After providing informed consent, participants completed an on-line survey about issues related to the environment. Participants provided qualitative and quantitative data by responding to both open-ended and forced-choice (Likert) items. Open-ended items are evaluated in this study. At the beginning of the survey, participants responded to the following open-ended items: 1)Briefly describe what you think overconsumption is. 2)What might be some examples of products and resources that are over-consumed in the U.S. Qualitative Measures Quantitative Measures Participants provided a total of 92 responses to this item. Analyses of these responses indicated most could be sorted into the following 5 categories: Taking more than is needed (36 responses) I believe overconsumption is when someone takes more of a product/resource than they need. Taking too much (19 responses) I believe that over consumption is using too much of a resource or a good. Using it at a pace that is not sustainable (16 responses) Overconsumption is consuming a resource to the point where the resource cannot be sustained. Wasting resources (8 responses) Wasting food, water, electricity. Using more than your share (4 responses) Using goods or resources in more abundance than what the majority of people in the world have access to. What is over-consumed in the U.S.? Mini- Over- mum Sufficient Consumption TV’s per 4 person household.124 Computers per 4 person household.125 Video game consoles per 4 person household.013 Portable electronic devices per person.0(1)1(2)3(4) Cars per person.112(3) One shower in minutes per person.51020(30) Cell phones per person.112 Disposable plastic bottles used per week 0(1)0(4)20(8) per person. Times an individual uses a towel before placing 1(4)3(5)1 it in the laundry. NOTE: To limit the influence of outliers, the Mode is presented. If the Mode and Median are different, then the Median is in parentheses. Participants provided a total of 275 responses. The chart below shows the most common. 2 responses: Candy, Computers, Drugs, Metals, Phones, Tobacco 1 response: Medicines, Purses, Houses, Apple Products, People, Books by Ayn Rand