<p>Today the problem of dirty streets is often mentioned in media indicating that it is an environmental and a social problem that needs to be solved. Trash lying around destroys the city picture affecting people negatively. Moreover, unpicked trash might have some devastating consequences in terms of rats and other animals. The population segment that trashes the most is youth between 15 and 29 years old. This study was conducted in order to see whether any specific action can be undertaken to affect young people who cause most of trashing and to reduce their environmentally unfriendly behavior.</p><p>In this thesis, the aim is to see how youth who is environmentally unfriendly is different from environmentally friendly in terms of a mindset; how those who are unfriendly think about trashing today and later test different stimuli to find out their effectiveness on the thinking patterns of these individuals.</p><p>The research method consisted of two parts using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. First one was a focus group interview which was chosen as an appropriate method to elicit the stimuli with potential to change a mindset. Six stimuli in total, 3 rewards and 3 punishments were chosen to be tested. Second method was an experiment using Repertory Grid technique. This technique’s purpose is to study and describe the values and attitudes of one individual. In this paper this technique was used on two occasions. The result of the first occasion indicated the person’s current mindset toward environment. After that, the person was presented certain stimulus that had a potential to change that person’s thinking pattern and behaviour. After the introduction of the incitement, the individual was asked again to use the grid. Before-and-after results were compared to find out whether the stimulus presented was effective enough to change individual’s thinking pattern.</p><p>The study indicated that there <em>are</em> two different mindsets concerning environment. One is the environmental mindset of indifference and the other one is the environmental friendly mindset. However, the gap between these can be mended if those people who are indifferent are affected in a right way. The study further indicates the specific stimuli that can be applied in order eliminated or at least decrease the gap. The most effective one is the shorter distance toward the nearest trashcan. This can be implemented by putting more trashcans on the streets. Moreover, to make the gap even less it would be possible to make the trashcans more aesthetically nice to the eye. Right now they are blending in to the city picture by being grey, black or dark green. Making these look nicer, as the study indicates, can contribute to change in thinking patterns.</p>

Today the problem of dirty streets is often mentioned in media indicating that it is an environmental and a social problem that needs to be solved. Trash lying around destroys the city picture affecting people negatively. Moreover, unpicked trash might have some devastating consequences in terms of rats and other animals. The population segment that trashes the most is youth between 15 and 29 years old. This study was conducted in order to see whether any specific action can be undertaken to affect young people who cause most of trashing and to reduce their environmentally unfriendly behavior. In this thesis, the aim is to see how youth who is environmentally unfriendly is different from environmentally friendly in terms of a mindset; how those who are unfriendly think about trashing today and later test different stimuli to find out their effectiveness on the thinking patterns of these individuals. The research method consisted of two parts using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. First one was a focus group interview which was chosen as an appropriate method to elicit the stimuli with potential to change a mindset. Six stimuli in total, 3 rewards and 3 punishments were chosen to be tested. Second method was an experiment using Repertory Grid technique. This technique’s purpose is to study and describe the values and attitudes of one individual. In this paper this technique was used on two occasions. The result of the first occasion indicated the person’s current mindset toward environment. After that, the person was presented certain stimulus that had a potential to change that person’s thinking pattern and behaviour. After the introduction of the incitement, the individual was asked again to use the grid. Before-and-after results were compared to find out whether the stimulus presented was effective enough to change individual’s thinking pattern. The study indicated that there are two different mindsets concerning environment. One is the environmental mindset of indifference and the other one is the environmental friendly mindset. However, the gap between these can be mended if those people who are indifferent are affected in a right way. The study further indicates the specific stimuli that can be applied in order eliminated or at least decrease the gap. The most effective one is the shorter distance toward the nearest trashcan. This can be implemented by putting more trashcans on the streets. Moreover, to make the gap even less it would be possible to make the trashcans more aesthetically nice to the eye. Right now they are blending in to the city picture by being grey, black or dark green. Making these look nicer, as the study indicates, can contribute to change in thinking patterns.

As gender-based discrimination and violence against women continues to be a critical human rights issue across the world there is a growing demand of engaging men in transforming the relations, norms and the inequal social structures. Even though there are many laws and policies in place to protect women’s rights they are poorly implemented due to the fact that society and social institutions do not fundamentally support them. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how interviewed male college students describe their experiences of participating in a one-year program led by the non-governmental organisation called Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA), based in Mumbai, India. Focus has been on the training program seen from the participating students’ perspective and in what way they perceive it has had an impact on their view of gender-based discriminations, equality and patriarchal norms in society. The collected data has been analysed through the theory of patriarchy and gender socialization. The results of the study show that, even though the program has been successful in their goal to change the participants mindset to some extent, the main visible change seem to have been on the students interpersonal skills. The interviewed students report an awareness of gender-based issues in society but also a change on a personal level such as a developed confidence and communication skills. Methods like interactive sessions and street-plays as well as being exposed to new environments, are recurrently expressed to have been positive and beneficial experiences. Another finding is the belief that gender-norms and behaviour are deep-rooted in society. Therefore to change the mindset and changing the norms is a slow process and something that will take time.