Internships

Marko Petrovic ’24

Major

School of Public and International Affairs

Project Title

Social Norm Dynamics and Behavior and Organizational Change Toward Net-Zero Carbon Emissions

Certificate(s): Cognitive Science, French Language and Culture

I worked with the Behavioral Science for Policy Lab to examine social norms and behavior in the context of the shift to net-zero emissions. The first project I completed involved selecting articles to be included in a meta-analysis of query theory, which is described in Professor Elke Weber’s research as “a psychological process model of preference construction that explains a broad range of phenomena in individual choice with important personal and social consequences.” I also worked to analyze a stakeholder survey for the Net-Zero project, which aims to measure the current global pace of transition toward net-zero. I found interesting correlations where business revenue explained both environmental, social and governance perceptions and behavior, but those behaviors and perceptions did not align. Moreover, I found preliminary evidence that societal trust could predict whether values were shared amongst different stakeholders. This research experience helped me gain better coding and data analysis skills and I plan to continue working on this project for my senior thesis. The experience gave me many new career insights, helped solidify my plans to pursue future psychological research and study, and to pursue a career that utilizes psychology to address environmental issues.