In The News – Psychologist steers Tahoe leaders away from highlighting problem litter behaviors
May 23, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 05/23/2024, Written by Katelyn Welsh
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Photos of trash strewn beaches and dizzying stats on the thousands of pounds of trash pulled from Tahoe may not be hitting the mark on changing litter behavior, according to a psychologist brought into Tahoe’s litter conversation.
“It can be a little bit worrisome to spend too much effort focusing on problem behavior,” Dr. Renee Bator explains, “Instead, try to find what’s going well and what people are doing right.” That’s because learning what others are doing, can be very influential in what people decide to do, the State University of New York Plattsburgh professor says.
This information has Tahoe environmental organizations and government agencies preparing positive success stories for messaging as they head into summer—the fourth of July lurking just around the corner.
Photo from Thunderbird Lodge – Tahoe Daily Tribune