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Bolderdijk, Dr Jan Willem

Jan Willem Bolderdijk
Jan Willem Bolderdijk

Jan Willem Bolderdijk is an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business. He received his doctorate in 2011 for his dissertation on psychology, entitled 'Buying People: The Persuasive Power of Money'.

The fields of psychology and marketing are recurring topics in Bolderdijk's research. Bolderdijk focuses on the social issues of tomorrow, especially in relation to sustainability and influencing consumers to make sustainable choices. His research aims at uncovering psychological barriers that prevent changes in consumer behaviour. Indeed, consumer behaviour has great influence when it comes to social problems such as climate change, overconsumption and the depletion of natural resources.

Furthermore, Bolderdijk is also a member of the Young Academy Groningen, a group of talented, enthusiastic, and ambitious young UG academics from different disciplines. The YAG aims to raise awareness of the UG's young talent. Together with his colleagues from the YAG, he wrote a book in which the authors gave young research talent the opportunity to participate by inviting them to submit their own research proposals and contribute to the book.

Previously in the news (mostly in Dutch)

Contact and more information

Publications

2024

Judge, M., Bouman, T., Steg, L., & Bolderdijk, J. W. (2024). Accelerating social tipping points in sustainable behaviors: Insights from a dynamic model of moralized social change. One Earth, 7(5), 759-770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.04.004
Koster, J., Leliveld, M., Risselada, H., & Bolderdijk, J. W. (2024). A System Approach to Sustainable Fashion: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go? (FEBRI Research Reports; No. 2024009-MARK). University of Groningen, FEB Research Institute.
Hoffmann, T., Ye, M., Zino, L., Cao, M., Rauws, W., & Bolderdijk, J. W. (2024). Overcoming inaction: An agent-based modelling study of social interventions that promote systematic pro-environmental change. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 94, Article 102221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102221
Prosser, A. M. B., O'Neill, S., Whitmarsh, L., Bolderdijk, J. W., Kurz, T., & Blackwood, L. (Accepted/In press). Overcoming (vegan) burnout: Mass gatherings can provide respite and rekindle shared identity and social action efforts in moralized minority groups. Political Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.13009
Mlakar, Z., Bolderdijk, J. W., Risselada, H., Fennis, B. M., Ye, M., Zino, L., & Cao, M. (Accepted/In press). Social tipping games: Experimental paradigms for studying consumer movements. Journal of the Association of Consumer Research. https://doi.org/10.1086/731916

2023

Prosser, A. M. B., Heung, L. N. M., Blackwood, L., O’Neill, S., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Kurz, T. (2024). ‘Talk amongst yourselves’: designing and evaluating a novel remotely-moderated focus group methodology for exploring group talk. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 21(1), 1-43. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2023.2257614
Tirion, A. S. C., Mulder, L. B., Kurz, T., Koudenburg, N., Prosser, A. M. B., Bain, P., & Bolderdijk, J. W. (2024). The sound of silence: The importance of bystander support for confronters in the prevention of norm erosion. British Journal of Social Psychology, 63(2), 909-935. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12709
Bouman, T., Bolderdijk, J. W., Renes, R. J., van der Wal, A., Paradies, G., Roeser, S., Van der Grift, L., van Uffelen, N., de Vries, G., Onwezen, M. C., Wals, A. E. J., & Aarts, M. N. C. (2023). Een verbod op fossiele reclame: essentieel, maar niet voldoende. Rijksoverheid.
Bouman, T., Bolderdijk, J. W., Renes, R. J., van der Wal, A. J., Paradies, G., Roeser, S., van de Grift, L., van Uffelen, N., de Vries, G., Onwezen, M., Wals, A. E. J., & Aarts, N. (2023). Een verbod op fossile reclame: essentieel, maar niet voldoende.

2022

Hoffmann, T., Rauws, W., Sparkman, G., & Bolderdijk, J. W. (2023). Norm Nudges in Neighbourhoods: When Do They Work and Why? In B. Gatersleben, & N. Murtagh (Eds.), Handbook on Pro-Environmental Behaviour Change (pp. 96-113). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Flores, E. C., Kelman, I., Joye, Y., Bolderdijk, J. W., Ayeb-Karlsson, S., Wutich, A., Ayalon, L., & Hickman, C. (2022). A healthy planet for a healthy mind. One Earth, 5(4), 307-310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.03.021
Koch, J. A., Bolderdijk, J. W., & van Ittersum, K. (2022). Can graphic warning labels reduce the consumption of meat? Appetite, 168, Article 105690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105690
Brouwer, C., Bolderdijk, J. W., Cornelissen, G., & Kurz, T. (2022). Communication strategies for moral rebels: How to talk about change in order to inspire self-efficacy in others. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 13(5), Article e781. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.781
Bouwman, E., Bolderdijk, J. W., Onwezen, M., & Taufik, D. (2022). “Do you consider animal welfare to be important?” Activating cognitive dissonance via value activation can promote vegetarian choices. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 83, Article 101871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101871
Bolderdijk, J. W., & Cornelissen, G. (2022). “How do you know someone's vegan?” They won't always tell you. An empirical test of the do-gooder's dilemma. Appetite, 168, Article 105719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105719
Zino, L., Ye, M., Mlakar, Z., Bolderdijk, J. W., Risselada, H., Fennis, B. M., & Cao, M. (2022). Incentivizing social diffusion on networks using a novel game-theoretic model. Abstract from Netsci-X 2022, Porto, Portugal.
Hoffmann, T., Bolderdijk, J. W., Rauws, W., Zino, L., & Ye, M. (2022). Misguided expectations hamper pro-environmental behavior change: A neighbourhood study.. Poster session presented at SPSP Sustainability Psychology Pre-Conference, San Francisco, United States.

2021

Bolderdijk, J. W., Peels-Matthey, S., Popkema, A., & Olivier, J. (2021). Achterhaalde waarheid? Zin en onzin van spreekwoorden. In Boekvorm Uitgevers.
Bolderdijk, J. W., Bouman, T., & van der Bles, A. M. (2021). Al is de leugen nog zo snel, de waarheid achterhaalt haar wel. In J. W. Bolderdijk, S. Peels-Matthey, & A. Popkema (Eds.), Achterhaalde waarheid? : Zin en onzin van spreekwoorden (pp. 126-131). In Boekvorm Uitgevers.
Ye, M., Zino, L., Mlakar, Ž., Bolderdijk, J. W., Risselada, H., Fennis, B. M., & Cao, M. (2021). Collective patterns of social diffusion are shaped by individual inertia and trend-seeking. Nature Communications, 12(1), Article 5698. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25953-1
Venhoeven, L. A., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2021). Corrigendum to “Why going green feels good.” [Journal of Environmental Psychology (2020), Volume 71, 101492]. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 75, Article 101616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101616
Koch, J., Bolderdijk, J. W., & van Ittersum, K. (2021). Disgusting? No, just deviating from internalized norms. Understanding consumer skepticism toward sustainable food alternatives. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 76, Article 101645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101645
Taufik, D., Bouman, T., & Bolderdijk, J. W. (2021). Het gras bij de buren is altijd groener. In J. W. Bolderdijk, S. Peels-Matthey, & A. Popkema (Eds.), Achterhaalde waarheid?: Zin en onzin van spreekwoorden (pp. 66-71). In Boekvorm Uitgevers.
Bolderdijk, J. W., & Jans, L. (2021). Minority influence in climate change mitigation. Current Opinion in Psychology, 42, 25-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.02.005
Koch, J. A., Bolderdijk, J. W., & van Ittersum, K. (2021). No Way, That’s Gross! How Public Exposure Therapy Can Overcome Disgust Preventing Consumer Adoption of Sustainable Food Alternatives. Foods, 10(6), Article 1380. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10061380
Mlakar, Z., Bolderdijk, J. W., Fennis, B. M., & Risselada, H. (2021). Repetition Legitimizes: Consistent Behavior as a Signal of Reliability, Trustworthiness, and Competence. Poster session presented at The Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s Annual Convention 2020.
Bolderdijk, J. W. (2021). Wie goed doet, goed ontmoet. In J. W. Bolderdijk, S. Peels-Matthey, & A. Popkema (Eds.), Achterhaalde waarheid?: Zin en onzin van spreekwoorden (pp. 30-35). In Boekvorm Uitgevers.

2020

Joye, Y., Bolderdijk, J. W., Koster, M., & Piff, P. (2020). A diminishment of desire: Exposure to nature relative to urban environments dampens materialism. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 54, Article 126783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126783
Prossner, A. M. B., Judge, M., Bolderdijk, J. W., Blackwood, L., & Kurz, T. (2020). ‘Distancers’ and ‘non-distancers’? The potential social psychological impact of moralizing COVID-19 mitigating practices on sustained behaviour change. British Journal of Social Psychology, 59(3), 653-662. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12399
Bösehans, G., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Wan, J. (2020). Pay more, fly more? Examining the potential guilt-reducing and flight-encouraging effect of an integrated carbon offset. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 71, Article 101469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101469
Mlakar, Z., Bolderdijk, J. W., Fennis, B. M., Risselada, H., Ye, B., & Zino, L. (2020). Releasing the brake: How disinhibition frees people and facilitates social change. Poster session presented at The Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s Annual Convention 2020, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
Risselada, H., Bolderdijk, J. W., Mlakar, Z., Fennis, B. M., Ye, B., & Zino, L. (2020). Releasing the brake: How disinhibition frees people and facilitates innovation diffusion. In Proceedings of the European Marketing Academy (Vol. 49). Article 64211 EMAC.
Ye, M., Zino, L., Mlakar, Z., Bolderdijk, J. W., Risselada, H., Fennis, B. M., & Cao, M. (2020). Understanding and Modeling Behavioral Mechanisms in Social Diffusion. Abstract from International School and Conference on Network Science.
Ye, B., Zino, L., Mlakar, Z., Bolderdijk, J. W., Risselada, H., Fennis, B. M., & Cao, M. (2020). Understanding and Modeling Cognitive Mechanisms in Social Diffusion. Poster session presented at International School and Conference on Network Science.
Venhoeven, L. A., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2020). Why going green feels good. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 71, Article 101492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101492

2018

Bolderdijk, J. W., Brouwer, C., & Cornelissen, G. (2018). When Do Morally Motivated Innovators Elicit Inspiration Instead of Irritation? Frontiers in Psychology, 8(2362), Article 2362. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02362

2017

Lehman, P. K., Geller, E. S., & Bolderdijk, J. W. (2017). Applications of social psychology to increase the impact of behaviour-focused intervention. In L. Steg, B. Buunk, K. Keizer, & T. Rothengatter (Eds.), Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Managing Social Problems (2 ed., pp. 52-78). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511801921.003
Venhoeven, L., Steg, E., & Bolderdijk, J. W. (2017). Can engagement in environmentally-friendly behavior increase well-being? In G. Fleury-Bahi, E. Pol, & O. Navarro (Eds.), Handbook of environmental psychology and quality of life research (pp. 229-237). (International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31416-7_13
Handgraaf, M., Griffioen, A., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Thogersen, J. (2017). Economic Psychology and Pro‐Environmental Behaviour. In R. Raynard (Ed.), Economic Psychology (pp. 435-450). (BPS textbooks in psychology). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118926352.ch27
van den Broek, K., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2017). Individual differences in values determine the relative persuasiveness of biospheric, economic and combined appeals. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 53, 145-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.07.009
Bolderdijk, J., Steg, L., Woerdman, E., Frieswijk, R., & De Groot, J. (2017). Understanding Effectiveness Skepticism. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 36(2), 348-361. https://doi.org/10.1509/jppm.16.118

2016

Bolderdijk, J. W., van der Werff, E., & Steg, L. (2016). De psychologische effecten van prijsprikkels. Tijdschrift Vervoerswetenschap, 52(1), 3-17.
Taufik, D., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2016). Going green? The relative importance of feelings over calculation in driving environmental intent in the Netherlands and the United States. Energy Research & Social Science, 22, 52-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2016.08.012
Venhoeven, L. A., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2016). Why Acting Environmentally-Friendly Feels Good: Exploring the Role of Self-Image. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, Article 1846. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01846

2015

Woerdman, E., & Bolderdijk, J. (2017). Emissions trading for households? A behavioral law and economics perspective. European Journal of Law and Economics, 44(3), 553–578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10657-015-9516-x
Joye, Y., & Bolderdijk, J. (2015). An exploratory study into the effects of extraordinary nature on emotions, mood, and prosociality. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1-9. Article 1577. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01577

2014

Taufik, D., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2015). Acting green elicits a literal warm glow. Nature climate change, 5(1), 37-40. https://doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE2449
Steg, L., Bolderdijk, J. W., Keizer, K., & Perlaviciute, G. (2014). An integrated framework for encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: The role of values, situational factors and goals. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 38, 104-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.01.002
Venhoeven, L., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2014). Can engagement in environmentally-friendly behavior increase well-being?. Poster session presented at 7th European Conference on Positive Psychology, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Geller, E. S., Cunningham, T., & Bolderdijk, J. W. (2014). Ecology: Achieving an ecologically sustainable future. In T. P. Gullotta, & M. Bloom (Eds.), Encyclopedia of primary prevention and health promotion (Second edition ed., pp. 278-293). Springer.
Leijten, F. R. M., Bolderdijk, J. W., Keizer, K., Gorsira, M., van der Werff, E., & Steg, L. (2014). Factors that influence consumers' acceptance of future energy systems: the effects of adjustment type, production level, and price. Energy Efficiency, 7(6), 973-985. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-014-9271-9
Schouten, T. M., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2014). Framing car fuel efficiency: linearity heuristic for fuel consumption and fuel-efficiency ratings. Energy Efficiency, 7(5), 891-901. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-014-9260-z
Dogan, E., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2014). Making Small Numbers Count: Environmental and Financial Feedback in Promoting Eco-driving Behaviours. Journal of Consumer Policy, 37(3), 413-422. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-014-9259-z
Venhoeven, L., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2014). Pro-environmental behavior: How a meaningful contribution can help increase well-being. Poster session presented at Kurt Lewin Institute Conference, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Venhoeven, L. A., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2014). Pro-environmental behavior as a self-signal: How seeing yourself as a “good” person may increase well-being. Abstract from The 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology, Paris, France. https://b-com.mci-group.com/Abstract/Statistics/AbstractStatisticsViewPage.aspx?AbstractID=182237
Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2014). Promoting sustainable consumption: The risks of using financial incentives. In L. A. Reisch, & J. Thøgersen (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Sustainable Consumption (pp. 328-342). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781783471270.00033
Taufik, D., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2014). Signaling feedback: How signaling you are "green", may make you act more like it . Abstract from The 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology, Paris, France. https://b-com.mci-group.com/Abstract/Statistics/AbstractStatisticsViewPage.aspx?AbstractID=183246
Noppers, E. H., Keizer, K., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2014). The adoption of sustainable innovations: Driven by symbolic and environmental motives. Global Environmental Change, 25, 52-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.01.012
Venhoeven, L., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2014). What is feasible does not necessarily bring satisfaction: Expected life satisfaction in and feasibility of different sustainable future scenarios. . Poster session presented at 2014 Heymans Symposium, Groningen, Netherlands.

2013

Bolderdijk, J. W., Steg, L., Geller, E. S., Lehman, P. K., & Postmes, T. (2013). Comparing the effectiveness of monetary versus moral motives in environmental campaigning. Nature climate change, 3(4), 413-416. https://doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE1767
Venhoeven, L., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Steg, L. (2013). Explaining the paradox: How pro-environmental behaviour can both thwart and foster well-being. Sustainability, 5(4), 1372-1386. https://doi.org/10.3390/su5041372
Bolderdijk, J. W., Steg, L., & Postmes, T. (2013). Fostering support for work floor energy conservation policies: Accounting for privacy concerns. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 34(2), 195-210. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.1831
Bolderdijk, J. W., Gorsira, M., Keizer, K. E., & Steg, L. (2013). Values Determine the (In) Effectiveness of Informational Interventions in Promoting Pro-Environmental Behavior. PLoS ONE, 8(12), Article e83911. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083911

2012

Bolderdijk, J. W., Lehman, P. K., & Geller, E. S. (2012). Promoting Pro-environmental Behavior with Rewards and Penalties. In L. Steg, A. E. van den Berg, & J. I. M. de Groot (Eds.), Environmental Psychology: An Introduction (pp. 233-242). Wiley.

2011

Bolderdijk, J. W., Knockaert, J., Steg, L., & Verhoef, E. T. (2011). Effects of Pay-As-You-Drive vehicle insurance on young drivers' speed choice: Results of a Dutch field experiment. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 43(3), 1181-1186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2010.12.032
Hamstra, M. R. W., Bolderdijk, J. W., & Veldstra, J. L. (2011). Everyday risk taking as a function of regulatory focus. Journal of Research in Personality, 45(1), 134-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2010.11.017

2010

Bolderdijk, J. W. (2010). Buying people: the persuasive power of money. [Thesis fully internal (DIV), Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences.]. s.n.
Veldstra, J., Bolderdijk, J., de Waard, D., Steg, E., & Brookhuis, K. (2010). Risk taking in traffic: comparing simulated driving with on-road GPS measured driving behaviour. Abstract from conference of the international council on alcohol, drugs and traffic safety , Oslo, Norway.
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