4102 - CAN FREE-RIDERS EMERGE AND HINDER THE PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF RECYCLED WATER?

Session: 4100 - FROM RESISTANCE TO EMBRACE: SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES ACCEPTANCE
AUTHORS:
Vila Tojo Sergio (CRETUS. Department of Social Psychology, Basic Psychology and Methodology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain ~ Santiago de Compostela ~ Spain) , Gómez-Román Cristina (CRETUS. Department of Social Psychology, Basic Psychology and Methodology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain ~ Santiago de Compostela ~ Spain) , Docampo-López Laura (Institute of Psychology (IPsiUS). Department of Social Psychology, Basic Psychology and Methodology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain. ~ Santiago de Compostela ~ Spain) , Docampo-López Laura (Institute of Psychology (IPsiUS). Department of Social Psychology, Basic Psychology and Methodology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain. ~ Santiago de Compostela ~ Spain) , Sabucedo José Manuel (Institute of Psychology (IPsiUS). Department of Social Psychology, Basic Psychology and Methodology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain. ~ Santiago de Compostela ~ Spain)
Abstract text:
As pro-environmental behaviours become more common, there is a risk that some
individuals perceive their personal contribution to the environmental goal as
unnecessary. This is known as the free-rider effect—benefiting from collective efforts
and results without actively participating. This effect tends to emerge when behaviours
involve high perceived costs, such as the use of recycled water. Despite being the result
of a strict purification process, recycled water often generates public reluctance,
especially for uses involving direct body contact (e.g., drinking).
This study explored the potential development of the free-rider effect in the context of
promoting recycled water and examined whether high levels of moral obligation could
counteract it, particularly when the behaviour requires greater personal sacrifice. A
representative sample of 400 participants from the Galicia (Spain) completed a
questionnaire measuring free-rider tendency, moral obligation, acceptance of recycled
water, and willingness to pay for both high- and low-body contact uses. Data collection
was conducted in person, online, and via telephone.
Results showed that 34.75% of respondents believed their individual effort was
unnecessary if others used recycled water—an indicator of the free-rider effect.
However, participants who felt morally obligated, even while perceiving their action as
nonessential, reported higher acceptance (F = 8.363, p = .004) and greater willingness to
pay (F = 5.763, p = .017) for high-contact uses. No significant effects were found for
low-contact uses.
These findings suggest that the free-rider phenomenon could threaten the adoption of
recycled water. "Benefiting without contributing" may be appealing to many individuals
who perceive a high cost in using recycled water. The spread of this belief could trigger
a spillover effect, undermining existing social agreements and hindering the
implementation of the recycled water. Nevertheless, a strong sense of moral obligation
appears to act as a protective factor, encouraging engagement despite cost-related
concerns.