Assignment on Sustainable Behavior
Augusta State University
Assignment on Sustainable Behavior
Answer for no. 1: Attempting to change the behavior of your friends
The steps I would take in order to influence one of my friends into employing sustainable behaviors would probably begin with me exemplifying the act itself. For example, in a situation where I would want to start riding my bike going to work, of course I should try doing it myself. But I will have to make sure that the company will have a place where I can store my bicycle while I’m at work. And so I will have to make measures towards that, such as appealing to my superiors that I would want to ride my bike to work, etc. And once all that’s set, I will do the thing myself. In order to influence/inspire a friend to do the same, I would probably insert it into our conversations as a possible side story where I suddenly mention “Hey, did you know I started riding my bike to work, recently?” I chose this kind of approach because I believe that friends do not usually like to be preached on and lectured. Casual conversation is usually the way to be able to get them to actually do stuff.
Once I am able to get them interested in the conversation, I would slowly insert a few things that I find beneficial in doing so, however I will do it in such a way that the topics I mention are relevant to them. Like, for example, if he/she is a little overweight, I would advertise it as an easy way to lose weight. If he/she is sickly then I take it as a way of improving physical fitness. But usually, people are hesitant to do these things alone, so I encourage them to do so through assuring them of my assistance or my companionship, because that’s usually the way friendship works – through assistance and companionship.
