Abstract
Despite the recognition of rebound effects (RE) in offsetting potential sustainability gains, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains limited. This study contributes by uncovering the psychological determinants leading to RE, while adopting an interdisciplinary approach that goes beyond the environmental sustainability domain. A systematic literature review of 135 publications resulted in the hierarchical consolidation of 30 unique behavioural rebound mechanisms. A critical evaluation highlighted their strengths and limitations in terms of addressed intervention types, outcome domains and effect types (i.e., behavioural, temporal, contextual and interpersonal). The results are inductively synthesised into a proposed novel conceptual model explaining behavioural RE as the result of changes in psychological determinants related to (i) environmental perceptions, (ii) non-environmental perceptions, (iii) intrinsic motivation and (iv) bounded rationality. The findings are translated into eight agenda points for behavioural rebound research, along with a discussion of practical implications and possibilities for preventing RE.