Wokje Abrahamse, PhD
(wokjea@uvic.ca)

Research Interests:

My research focuses on human behaviour in relation to a range of environmental issues, such as energy use, travel mode choice and food consumption. I am especially interested in the effectiveness of interventions to encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly behaviours. I also examine factors related to engagement in environmentally friendly behaviours, such as attitudes, awareness and values.

I am currently working as a Banting post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology. Before joining the University of Victoria, I worked for the New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities, at the University of Otago, Wellington. I obtained my PhD in Social and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

Fellowships:

• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, SSHRC, 2011-2013
• Postdoctoral Fellowship New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities, 2009-2011

Publications:

Abrahamse, W., & Matthies, E. (in press). Informational strategies to promote pro-environmental behaviours: Changing knowledge, awareness, and attitudes. In L.Steg, A. E. van den Berg., & J. I. M. de Groot (Eds). Environmental Psychology: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.

Abrahamse, W., & Keall., M. (2012). Effectiveness of a web-based intervention to encourage carpooling to work: A case study of Wellington, New Zealand. Transport Policy 21, 45–51.

Abrahamse, W., & Steg, L. (2011). Factors related to household energy use and intention to reduce it: The role of psychological and socio-demographic variables. Human Ecology Review, 18, 30-40.

Milfont, T. L., Abrahamse, W., & McCarthy, N. (2011). Spatial and temporal biases in assessments of environmental conditions in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Psychology.40, 56-67.

Witten, K., Abrahamse, W., & Stuart, K. (2011). Growth Misconduct? Avoiding sprawl and improving urban intensification in New Zealand. New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities Monograph Series.  Wellington: Steele Roberts.

Steg, L., & Abrahamse, W. (2010). How to promote energy savings among households: Theoretical and practical approaches. In V. Corral-Verdugo & C. H. García-Cadena (Eds.). Psychology and Sustainable Development: Worldwide Current Trends in Research. New York: Nova Publishers.

Abrahamse, W., & Steg, L. (2009). How do socio-demographic and psychological factors relate to households' direct and indirect energy use and savings? Journal of Economic Psychology, 30, 711-720.

Abrahamse, W., Steg, L., Gifford, R., & Vlek, C. (2009). Factors influencing 30car use for commuting and the intention to reduce it: A question of self-interest or morality? Transportation Research-F: Psychology and Behaviour, 12 , 317-324.

­Evans, D., & Abrahamse, W. (2009). Beyond rhetoric: The possibilities of and for ‘sustainable lifestyles’. Environmental Politics, 18, 486-502.

Abrahamse, W. (2007). Energy conservation through behavioral change: Examining the effectiveness of a tailor-made approach. Doctoral dissertation. University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Available online: http://dissertations.ub.rug.nl/faculties/ppsw/2007/w.abrahamse/ 

Abrahamse, W., Steg, L., Vlek, C., & Rothengatter, T. (2007). The effect of tailored information, goal setting, and tailored feedback on household energy use, energy-related behaviors and behavioral antecedents. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 27, 265-276.

Abrahamse, W., Steg, L., Vlek, C., & Rothengatter, T. (2005). A review of interventions aimed at household energy conservation. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25, 273-291.