Changing Individual Behaviors or Creating Green Societies? Advancing from a Behaviorist to a Social Practice Theory Approach

This article engages in the discussion that was initially framed by Elizabeth Shove (2010) about the relevance of social practice theory compared to behaviorist theory regarding the question of how citizens may be engaged in more sustainable everyday behaviors or practices. We put both theories to work by analyzing our empirical data from the point of view of each theoretical perspective. Through a discussion of these opposing analyses, the paper concludes that the social practice approach provides a more coherent and grounded perspective on individual climate engagement. Key Words: Climate change—Individual engagement—Social practice theory—Behaviorism.