A consumer psychology study conducted by Nina Mazar and Chen-Bo Zhong found that consuming “green products” does not make us better people. If anything, buying green products seems to encourage individuals to be less moral. In a series of experiments, the groups of individuals who were licensed to buy products in a “green store” had higher rates of cheating and lying during subsequent game-playing in the course of the experiment. That is, once they had assuaged their consciences with some green behavior, they became more rapacious and more self-seeking in other contexts.
– via Ben Casnocha
p.s. Full disclosure: I own Toyota stock so please do go and buy a Prius or two. Just, you know, stop driving like a dick on the streets of L.A. Cheers.
