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Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing (Third Edition) Kindle Edition

4.7 out of 5 stars 75 ratings

The highly acclaimed manual for changing everyday habits-now in an all-newthird edition!

We are consuming resources and polluting our environment at a rate that is outstripping our planet's ability to support us. To create a sustainable future, we must not only change our own actions, we must educate and encourage those around us to change theirs. If one individual recycles his plastic containers, the impact is minimal. But if an entire community recycles, enormous amounts of resources are saved.

How then do we go about transforming people's good intentions into action? Fostering Sustainable Behavior explains how the field of community-based social marketing has emerged as an effective tool for encouraging positive social change. This completely revised and updated third edition contains a wealth of new research, behavior change tools, and case studies. Learn how to:

  • target unsustainable behaviors, and identify the barriers to change
  • understand various commitment strategies
  • communicate effective messages
  • enhance motivation and invite participation.

The strategies introduced in this ground-breaking manual are an invaluable resource for anyone interested in promoting sustainable behavior, including environmental conservation, recycling and waste reduction, water and energyefficiency and alternative transportation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I highly recommend the definitive and must read book "Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing Third Edition "by Doug McKenzie-Mohr, to anyone serious about creating a sustainable environment policy or plan, and for implementing a system of community-based social marketing. This book will be read over and over again, and makes the ideal textbook for developing and enriching behavioral change regarding sustainability and the environment.
Read the landmark and now classic guide "Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing Third Edition "by Doug McKenzie-Mohr, and discover some fresh thinking, and a community based approach to sustainable development. This book provides the framework to transform people's behavior and their lives as they change their behavior and attitudes toward the environment and sustainability."
Wayne Hurlbert - "Blog Business World"


I highly recommend the definitive and must read book Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing Third Edition by Doug McKenzie-Mohr, to anyone serious about creating a sustainable environment policy or plan, and for implementing a system of community-based social marketing. This book will be read over and over again, and makes the ideal textbook for developing and enriching behavioral change regarding sustainability and the environment.

Read the landmark and now classic guide Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing Third Edition by Doug McKenzie-Mohr, and discover some fresh thinking, and a community based approach to sustainable development. This book provides the framework to transform people's behavior and their lives as they change their behavior and attitudes toward the environment and sustainability.
Wayne Hurlbert -
Blog Business World



I highly recommend the definitive and must read book Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing Third Edition by Doug McKenzie-Mohr, to anyone serious about creating a sustainable environment policy or plan, and for implementing a system of community-based social marketing. This book will be read over and over again, and makes the ideal textbook for developing and enriching behavioral change regarding sustainability and the environment.

Read the landmark and now classic guide Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing Third Edition by Doug McKenzie-Mohr, and discover some fresh thinking, and a community based approach to sustainable development. This book provides the framework to transform people's behavior and their lives as they change their behavior and attitudes toward the environment and sustainability.
Wayne Hurlbert -
Blog Business World

Review

"Fostering Sustainable Behavior is a must-read for anyone interesting in improving the impact of community-based behavior change programs. Students and professionals alike find McKenzie-Mohr's practical, evidence-based advice both easy to grasp and easy to implement."
― Edward Maibach, MPH, Ph.D., Director, Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University

"At Bicycle Victoria we're passionate about bike riding. We used to unleash that passion on others through convincing verbal arguments about why they should ride. We'd then shake our heads in disbelief when they didn't get on their bike. Then we discovered Fostering Sustainable Behavior. It has given us an effective and measurable way to get more people riding. Thanks to CBSM we're now closer to making bike riding normal. The great news is people are getting on their bikes without us having to convince them."
― Craig Richards, Chief Operating Officer, Bicycle Victoria, Melbourne, Australia

"Encouraging behavior change on any scale is challenging and requires the application of well-proven models and theory. Community-based social marketing, developed by Doug McKenzie-Mohr, is a model that we have used successfully for nearly a decade in our programs. CBSM allows us to develop a comprehensive understanding of our target's barriers to change and what motivators are required to encourage the adoption of sustainable behaviors. Importantly the CBSM research process allows us to clearly demonstrate to decision makers that solid social science underpins our work and that excellent outcomes can and will be achieved."
― Greg Allen, Manager Community Education, Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Western Australia

"I can't think of a more useful resource for anyone interested in helping communities adopt more sustainable behaviors. My students love the concise, research-based content, the clear how-to steps for designing and evaluating programs, and the many examples. I love that the author has continued to improve this classic text with more about how to select the target behaviors and how to encourage social diffusion. This book is a true gem and the new version is the best yet."
― Carol D. Saunders, Ph.D., Dept. of Environmental Studies, Antioch University New England

"Fostering Sustainable Behavior guided the development of our programs to tackle climate change in Wales. Doug's writing and thinking helped us to clarify not only which behaviors to target, but also how to create effective programs to foster emission reduction behaviors. We recommend this excellent book to agencies who are developing similar programs."
― Usha Ladwa-Thomas, Climate Change and Water Division, Welsh Assembly Government

"Doug's book Fostering Sustainable Behavior was the single, most significant influence in the design of our residential water and energy efficiency programs. The Home WaterWise and ClimateSmart Home services each reached over 200,000 households in Queensland. The book not only expertly guides you through his research, but it outlines strategies and methods to achieve long-term behavior change, underpinned by real examples. It provides a compelling case to embrace a community-based social marketing approach as the key driver to engagement and ultimately, advocacy. We followed the principles outlined in the book and not only do the savings speak for themselves, but the engagement, advocacy and rates of participation are all testament to the success of this approach."
― Anthony Coates, Exec. Director Major Projects, Local Government Infrastructure Services, Brisbane, Queensland

"Doug's first edition of Fostering Sustainable Behavior put community-based social marketing on the map. His second edition launched it as a practical and powerful tool to influence behaviors to protect the environment. This third edition will ensure the principles and practices permanently orbit the globe."
― Nancy R. Lee, President, Social Marketing Services, Inc.

"Fostering Sustainable Behavior is a must-read for anyone involved in energy and environmental policies and programs. McKenzie-Mohr's approach is solidly based in research and in many years of on-the-ground successful programs with careful evaluations. His discussion about the critical importance of carefully selecting and defining the behaviors and deeply understanding the barriers/benefits before moving to program or policy design - expanded in this edition - is essential. I highly recommend Fostering Sustainable Behavior and his highly informative website on community-based social marketing."
― Linda Schuck, Founder and Chair, Behavior, Energy & Climate Change Conference

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004UI6XJA
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ New Society Publishers; 3rd edition (February 1, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 183 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 75 ratings

About the author

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Doug McKenzie-Mohr
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Dr. Doug McKenzie-Mohr is an environmental psychologist who specializes in designing programs to promote sustainable behavior. For the last decade his award-winning work has focused on incorporating scientific knowledge on behavior change into the design and delivery of community programs. As the founder of community-based social marketing, he has repeatedly illustrated its utility in his research, workshops, and consulting. His previous version of this book published through Canada's National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy has become requisite reading for those who deliver programs to promote sustainable behavior.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
75 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book offers excellent practical information on implementing sustainability programs and provides a methodology to follow. They describe it as an easy read.

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10 customers mention "Information quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-structured, appreciating its methodology and guiding principles.

"...Pay attention to the research. This book will guide you through the literature and offers a methodology to follow." Read more

"...-Based Social Marketing steps and tools presented in Fostering Sustainable Behavior introduced me to a new way of approaching changing norms...." Read more

"Recommend it to who wants to try a community promotion. It’s our textbook and we needed to make a plan for planning a community based activity..." Read more

"...of marketing of sustainable behavior and this book is a nice and valuable start...." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read.

"Excellent book that every sustainability professional should own and follow...." Read more

"...Good examples and easy to read which creates a good understanding of what is required to start with fostering sustainable behavior." Read more

"Great book, informative, easy read." Read more

"Great book. All should read. Shipped a but later than expected but on time for classes." Read more

Step by step / practical manual
5 out of 5 stars
Step by step / practical manual
Recommend it to who wants to try a community promotion. It’s our textbook and we needed to make a plan for planning a community based activity according to the book. It’s easy to follow the steps so we made it!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2017
    Excellent book that every sustainability professional should own and follow. If you are engaged in education and outreach campaigns with the intent of changing behavior and you're not using this book, then you are ignoring over a decade of research about what actually works. Don't assume you know what works to change behavior. Pay attention to the research. This book will guide you through the literature and offers a methodology to follow.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2011
    The Community-Based Social Marketing steps and tools presented in Fostering Sustainable Behavior introduced me to a new way of approaching changing norms. Some of the concepts seem basic but with the hustle of daily life I sometimes forget to approach challenges in a positive, structured nature. The idea our society has become so complex that education alone does not promote change is a challenge I face daily. Without continual reinforcement, reminders, and sometimes firing workers who cannot follow the simplest instructions such as not smoking onsite makes me realize it is not just the construction field facing these challenges!

    The case studies focused mainly on social diffusion, prompts, and commitment. `Canada's "Turn it Off" Campaign' relied on commitment from motorists, stickers, and ultimately social diffusion by influencing others to participate so they would feel as if they were part of the group. Social diffusion was also shown to be effective in the `Protecting Watersheds' case study by direct communication and literature distribution. `The Reducing Outdoor Water Use' case study also proved commitment, direct communication, and prompts were the most effective way to foster social norms in a community. Commitments were again proved successful in the `Using Email to Change Behavior' by communicating regularly to ensure DEP staff was following through with their commitment. This method is also very cost efficient!

    The other two case studies `Increasing Hotel Towel Reuse' used descriptive norms as means to encourage energy conservation while `Making Biking Convenient' case study did not address anything besides convenience as a strategy. Overall, the case studies proved sustainable practices can become a norm through different strategies. I felt as if the case studies could have included more information to encompass all five steps. The book reiterates the same topics and I felt as if the organization could use improvement. For example, focus groups are referenced in Step 2 and Step 3, but I felt the statements about financial reimbursement were unnecessary and none of the case studies utilized focus groups.

    The quote by Albert Einstein "Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another; it is the only means, "is the most effective way to foster sustainable behavior in my opinion. Leading by example is the only way to outwardly show commitment and obtain credibility.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2019
    Recommend it to who wants to try a community promotion. It’s our textbook and we needed to make a plan for planning a community based activity according to the book. It’s easy to follow the steps so we made it!
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Step by step / practical manual

    Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2019
    Recommend it to who wants to try a community promotion. It’s our textbook and we needed to make a plan for planning a community based activity according to the book. It’s easy to follow the steps so we made it!
    Images in this review
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    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2013
    I am new to the area of marketing of sustainable behavior and this book is a nice and valuable start. Sometimes it feels like kicking in open doors, because of the requirement to investigate your target group but that is with all books about marketing I guess.

    Good examples and easy to read which creates a good understanding of what is required to start with fostering sustainable behavior.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2021
    Great book, informative, easy read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2014
    Social marketing is marketing that seeks to make the world better in some way. This is the best all-in-one guide to what works in social marketing that I've ever seen. It focuses on sustainability-oriented campaigns, but the principles apply to all forms of social change.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2014
    This is great marketing book. There are in-depth steps suggested, but totally think they are worth the time to do to have a successful campaign whether it has to do with sustainability or marketing.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2015
    Great book. All should read. Shipped a but later than expected but on time for classes.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Ana Rachel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product and delivery time
    Reviewed in Canada on October 11, 2021
    It arrived in time and in excellent conditions
  • John Joyce
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful introduction to the field of Social Marketing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2014
    Anyone interested in why people behave the way that they do and/or how to influence behaviour in a certain direction would be well advised to read this book. Doug-McKenzie-Mohr is one of the leading practitioners of 'Social Marketing' and a highly respected academic expert in his field. But this is not a dry textbook by any means and contains fascinating insights and examples that will be valuable to a wide range of readers.
  • Sophi Robertson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
    Reviewed in Canada on May 4, 2018
    Great read for anyone who wants to be an effective communicator.

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