Perceptions of the Energy Crisis

Two representative samples of residents living in a Colorado community were surveyed during acute and chronic stages of the 1973 gasoline shortage. The "Acute Sample" was surveyed during a period when gasoline was suddenly difficult to find. The "Chronic Sample" was surveyed after the energy problem had been established, and respondents expected more future effects of the energy "crisis" than had acute sample respondents. Support was assessed for the following three types of pro-energy actions: (1) voluntary as well as (2) mandatory actions that had benefits for energy and air pollution problems but entailed lifestyle costs, and (3) actions with energy benefits but environment costs. For both samples, results indicated levels of decreasing support in the order given above. However, significant increases in support for mandatory actions and environment-costs actions were obtained for the chronic as compared to the acute sample. Principal analysis of data involved five stepwise regression analyses for each sample. Five criteria (or dependent variables) were derived from the three types of pro-energy actions and two trade-off measures with air pollution abatement as the only stated benefit. Applications of the findings were made to the current situation of mandatory proposals and environmental costs.