Humans’ overconsumption of resources is a leading contributor to global climate change, says University of Arizona researcher Sabrina Helm. Therefore, it’s increasingly important to understand the choices consumers make and how those decisions affect the health of a planet with limited resources. In a new study, published in the journal Young Consumers , Helm and her colleagues explore how materialistic values influence pro-environmental behaviors in millennials, who are now the nation’s most influential group of consumers.
The researchers focused on two main categories of pro-environmental behaviors: reduced consumption, which includes actions like repairing instead of replacing older items; and “green buying,” or purchasing products designed to limit environmental impacts. The researchers also looked at how engaging in pro-environmental behaviors affects consumer well-being.
More materialistic participants, the researchers found, were unlikely to engage in reduced consumption. However, materialism did not seem to have an effect on their likelihood of practicing “green buying.” That’s probably because “green buying,” unlike reduced consumption, still offers a way for materialists to fulfill their desire to get new items, Helm said.
Study participants who reported having fewer materialistic values were much more likely to engage in reduced consumption. Consuming less was, in turn, linked to higher personal well-being and lower psychological suffering. Green buying—which may have some positive environmental effects, although to a smaller degree than reduced consumption—was not found to improve consumer well-being, Helm said.
The take-home message for consumers: “The key is to reduce consumption and not just buy green stuff. Having less and buying less can actually make us more satisfied and happier,” Helm said. “If you have a lot of stuff, you have a lot on your mind,” she said. “For example, it requires maintenance and there’s a lot of burdens of ownership, and if you relieve yourself of that burden of ownership, most people report feeling a lot better and freer.”
Helm and her colleagues additionally looked at how materialism affects millennial consumers’ proactive financial behaviors, such as budgeting and saving. Examining financial behaviors alongside pro-environmental behaviors provides a picture of how young adults proactively deal with resource limitations in two contexts: environmental and financial, Helm said.
As expected, Helm and her colleagues found that those who reported having more materialistic values engaged in fewer proactive financial behaviors than their less materialistic counterparts ( 对应的人 ). The researchers also found that, consistent with previous studies, proactive financial behaviors were associated with better personal well-being, life satisfaction and financial satisfaction, as well as lower psychological suffering.
Understanding how materialistic values impact consumer behaviors, and how those behaviors in turn affect personal and environmental well-being, is important, Helm said. However, she acknowledges that for many consumers, shifting behaviors to be more financially proactive and consume less will be challenging.
1 . What do we know about pro-environmental behaviors?
A . They are a cause of climate change.
B . They lead to a more satisfying life.
C . They vary in different age groups.
D . They are affected by materialism.
2 . It can be learned from Helm’s study that ________.
A . ownership of green products brings a sense of happiness
B . materialists prefer practicing green buying to buying less
C . green buying helps control people’s desire to buy new items
D . buying less and green buying have similar effects on people
3 . According to the study, which of the following can improve one’s well-being?
A . Replacing older items. B . Developing new resources.
C . Buying greener products. D . Being careful with expenses.
4 . What is Helm probably going to explain in the next paragraph?
A . When people develop proactive financial behaviors.
B . Which financial behaviors lead to mental well-being.
C . Why it is hard to change people’s financial behaviors.
D . How materialistic values influence financial behaviors.
1 . D
2 . B
3 . D
4 . C
【分析】
本文是说明文,说明了物质主义消费观对环保行为的影响以及与个体幸福感之间的关系。
1. 细节理解题。根据第一自然段中 “Helm and her colleagues explore how materialistic values influence pro-environmental behaviors in millennials,...” ( Helm 和她的同事探索了物质主义价值观如何影响千禧一代的环保行为, …… )可知, materialistic values 即 materialism 对 pro-environmental behaviors 有影响。故选 D 项。
2. 细节理解题。根据第三自然段中 “More materialistic participants,…, were unlikely to engage in reduced consumption. However, materialism did not seem to have an effect on their likelihood of practicing “green buying.”” (更崇尚物质的参与者不太可能减少消费。然而,物质主义似乎对他们进行 “ 绿色购买 ” 的可能性没有影响。)可知,物质主义者不太可能减少消费,但他们愿意 “ 绿色购买 ” 。故选 B 项。
3. 细节理解题。根据第四自然段中 “Consuming less was, in turn, linked to higher personal well-being and lower psychological suffering.” (反之,消费越少,个人幸福感越高,心理痛苦越少。)可知不崇尚物质,消费少的个体幸福感更高,因此 “Being careful with expenses” 也就是精打细算的人更幸福。故选 D 项。
4. 推理判断题。在末段尾句 “However, she acknowledges that for many consumers, shifting behaviors to be more financially proactive and consume less will be challenging.” (不过,她也承认,对许多消费者来说,改变消费行为,在财务上更加主动,减少消费将是一个挑战。)中作者说改变消费行为很难,按逻辑推理可知下一段中会解释为什么难。故选 C 项。