Rethinking social psychology and intervention design: A model of energy savings and human behavior

Abstract This theoretical-review article contributes to the discussion on individual energy savings by developing a hypothetical classification of interventions and linking them to socio-psychological factors affecting the transition points of four phases of behavior change (predecision, preaction, action, and postaction). It helps to segment a population into subgroups, clarifies the dynamic process for individuals, and groups examples of interventions to achieve substantial behavioral change. The generic integrative model presents academic study designers and practitioners with a theoretical viewpoint and an orientation framework for their intervention designs. A systematic literature review of the empirical evidence for the model and interventions is presented. This blueprint of a model can be adapted, specified, further developed and implemented as a backbone for empirically-grounded intervention design.