Investigating the Effects of Sensory Cues on Sustainable Decision-Making and Pro-Environmental Purchases

The results of three experiments suggest that subtle auditory, olfactory and tactile stimuli in a built environment affect the decision-making process by means of the mere exposure effect. It is shown that exposure to pleasing sensory cues associated with nature and undesirable cues associated with industrialization leads to an increase in occupants’ tendency to act sustainably and to choose pro-environmental consumer products.