Predicting antipollution behavior: The role of molar behavioral intentions, past behavior, and locus of control

The moderating effect of past behavior and locus of control in the relationship between attitudes and multiple behavioral intentions were investigated among Chinese students to test the theory of reasoned action. Measures of locus of control, past proenvironmental behavior, attitude, social norm, and personal control toward the act of signing an antipollution petition were compared to the actual act of signing a relevant petition to government in a 5-week follow-up. Past behavior and attitude, but not locus of control, predicted behavioral intentions. A specific attitude-multiple intention model fitted petition signing behavior extremely well, with more than 90% accuracy. The relevance of past behavior and more general measures of intended commitment to proenvironmental behavior are discussed. Copyright © 1995 Sage Publications. All rights reserved.