In recent years, environmental psychologists have shown interest in the notion of connection to nature, and considered it to have an important role in helping mitigate the environmental crisis. ...Together they have developed a number of concepts and measures related to this notion. However, the convergence or divergence of these concepts and measures has rarely been examined. The present research thus aims to empirically examine their similarities and differences. Using one undergraduate Hong Kong Chinese sample (N = 322) and one diverse American sample (N = 185), it demonstrates that these measures can be considered as markers of a common construct: They were strongly inter-correlated, converged to a single factor, shared highly similar correlations with various criterion variables, and did not show much unique predictive power when their common factor was controlled for. Nevertheless, there is also evidence of divergence: Some measures had stronger correlations with the criterion variables than did others, and had unique, though small, incremental predictive power. These findings bear important implications for the theoretical understanding of connection to nature. On the one hand, recognizing the commonalities among the various concepts and measures allows one to integrate existing research findings. On the other hand, identifying the distinctiveness of some concepts and measures reveals that certain ways of conceptualizing connection to nature (e.g., a multidimensional framework) are promising. Directions for future research are suggested accordingly.
► There is strong convergence among concepts and measures related to connection to nature. ► They thus can be considered as markers of a higher-order, common construct. ► This convergence allows one to integrate existing research findings. ► There is also certain divergence among these concepts and measures. ► Some ways of conceptualizing connection to nature (e.g., multidimensional) seem promising.
Environmental psychology is a field concerned with transactions between humans and their environments. Since human–environment interactions are culture-bound, a fuller understanding of such ...interactions requires sensitivity to the role of culture in the ways researchers theorize human behavior, conduct empirical studies, and interpret observed findings. In this article, we aim to advance the development of a culturally informed understanding of human–environment interactions, which we refer to as cross-cultural environmental psychology. We first discuss why a cultural perspective is useful. We then survey the field of environmental psychology as indexed by publications in this journal with a complementary set of three bibliometric analyses, which show that the field lacks cultural diversity in both its research participants and its authors, and it is in need of more cross-border, particularly cross-continent, collaborations. We offer a summary of previous cross-cultural studies in terms of how the influence of culture was conceptualized and how cross-cultural data was collected. We also provide resources and recommendations to environmental psychology researchers who are interested in conducting cross-cultural studies. We conclude the article with an illustration of the important principles and recommendations with reference to the articles in this special issue.
•Human–environment interactions are culture-bound.•Our field currently lacks cultural diversity and cross-border collaborations.•Here we advance the development of cross-cultural environmental psychology.•We review previous cross-cultural studies and provide resources and recommendations.•We illustrate important principles with reference to the articles in the special issue.
•We hypothesize that generalized trust can narrow the gap between environmental concern and pro-environmental behavior.•We obtained multilevel evidence supporting this hypothesis with two ...international survey datasets (WVS and ISSP).•The concern-behavior association was stronger among individuals and countries with higher levels of generalized trust.•These findings elucidate the gap and suggest how environmental campaigns can be improved.•They also signify the need to explore cross-national variations in phenomena pertaining to environmental concern and behavior.
Research has established that people’s environmental concern does not always translate into pro-environmental behavior. On the basis of the social dilemma perspective, the present article examines how this concern-behavior gap can be narrowed. We posit that individuals who are concerned about environmental problems feel reluctant to contribute because they fear being exploited by free riders. We further argue that generalized trust can temper this fear because it allows people to expect others to contribute. Accordingly, we hypothesize that the concern-behavior association is stronger among individuals and societies with higher levels of trust. Findings from multilevel analyses on two international survey datasets (World Values Survey and International Social Survey Programme) support our hypothesis. These findings not only elucidate the concern-behavior gap but also suggest how environmental campaigns can be improved. They also signify the need to explore cross-national variations in phenomena pertaining to environmental concern and behavior.
When explaining engagement in environmental activism, previous psychological studies have mostly focused on motivational factors. In this investigation, considering that environmental activism is ...political in essence, I argue that the effect of motivations is moderated by the political context people face. Drawing upon political science theories, I hypothesize that psychological motivations (environmental concern and postmaterialist values) are more strongly associated with environmental activism engagement among individuals who trust the government less and in societies with more facilitative political opportunity structures (higher density of environmental NGOs and more democracy). With a series of multilevel analyses of data from 31 countries, I found robust support to these hypotheses. The significance of considering the psychology X politics interaction behind human responses to environmental issues is discussed.
•The psychology X politics interaction behind environmental activism was examined with a 31-country data set.•The strength of the effect of psychological motivations was moderated by the political context, as hypothesized.•This effect was stronger among individuals who trusted the government less.•This effect was stronger in societies with higher density of environmental NGOs and more democracy.
Dispositional empathy with nature Tam, Kim-Pong
Journal of environmental psychology,
September 2013, 2013-09-00, 20130901, Letnik:
35
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Empathy has been regarded by environmental thinkers as a key in conservation efforts. Nevertheless, systematic research on empathy toward nature, particularly from the personality perspective, has ...been lacking in psychology. The present research thus provides this needed investigation by testing four propositions regarding a new construct—dispositional empathy with nature (DEN), which refers to the dispositional tendency to understand and share the emotional experience of the natural world. In five studies with 817 participants in total (including university students and working adults from two societies), DEN robustly and uniquely predicted conservation behavior (Proposition 1). Females, respondents who felt close to nature, and participants who considered nature to be sentient exhibited stronger DEN (Propositions 2–4). DEN was distinct from empathy with humans and a number of known determinants of conservation behavior (including personality traits, values, emotional involvement with nature, environmental concern, and social desirability bias). Taken together, these findings highlight the possibility of developing a theory of empathy with nature by referring to the existing understanding about empathy with humans. The construct of DEN has much theoretical utility, as it sheds new light on several under-explored issues in conservation psychology (including the gender gap in environmentalism, the role of connection to nature, and the role of anthropomorphism), and bears practical implications for the promotion of environmentalism. In addition, the newly developed scale for DEN is potentially useful for assessing the efficacy of environmental education programs.
•A new construct—dispositional empathy with nature (DEN)—is proposed.•DEN robustly and incrementally predicts conservation behavior.•Females, people who feel connected to nature, and those who consider nature sentient show stronger DEN.•DEN mediates effects of gender, connection to nature, and anthropomorphism on conservation behavior.•These findings converge toward a theory of empathy with nature.
Feeling guilty about the occurrence of environmental problems is not uncommon; however, not everyone experiences it. Why are there such individual differences? Considering that guilt is a ...predominantly interpersonal phenomenon, as emotion research has demonstrated, how is it possible that some individuals feel guilty for the degradation of the non-human environment, and some others do not? The present investigation tests an integrated solution to these two questions based on the concept of anthropomorphism. In three studies, with an individual difference approach, it was observed that anthropomorphism of nature predicted the experience of environmental guilt, and this feeling in turn was associated with engagement in pro-environmental behavior. That is, it appears that individuals who view nature in anthropomorphic terms are more likely to feel guilty for environmental degradation, and they take more steps toward environmental action. This observation not only improves existing understanding of environmental guilt, but also adds evidence to the theoretical possibility of describing and understanding the human–nature relationship with reference to psychological knowledge regarding interpersonal relationships.
Feeling grateful to nature for its bountiful benefits to humans and wanting to give thanks to nature is a familiar theme in personal stories and cultural rituals, but this emotional experience has ...rarely been understood scientifically. The present research fills this gap by presenting a theory of gratitude to nature. Findings from four correlational studies and two experiments show some support for its propositions. Gratitude to nature can be conceptualized as a form of benefit-triggered gratitude. The distinction between trait and state gratitude to nature was found to be valid, and both forms of gratitude can be reliably measured. Trait gratitude to nature was associated with some constructs relevant to the human-nature relationship (e.g., experience with nature, connectedness to nature, anthropomorphism of nature) and interpersonal gratitude. Also, trait gratitude to nature was associated with not only intention to perform pro-environmental behavior but also actual donation to environmental causes. Experimental manipulation of gratitude to nature had some behavioral effect, but this effect was not robust. The theory offers novel insights into the understanding of humans’ relations with nature and responses to environmental problems. It also suggests potential directions for environmental education and communication.
•This article presents a theory of gratitude to nature.•Gratitude to nature can be conceptualized as a form of benefit-triggered gratitude.•A distinction between trait and state gratitude to nature can be made, both of which can be reliably measured.•Gratitude to nature is associated with constructs relevant to human-nature relationship (e.g., connectedness to nature).•Gratitude to nature is associated with engagement in pro-environmental behavior.
Studies have demonstrated that environmental concern does not always translate into pro-environmental behavior. This concern-behavior gap results partly from the influences of psychological barriers. ...Based on the cross-cultural psychology literature, we propose that these barriers also reflect some general psychological orientations that are culturally patterned. In support of our hypotheses, we found with data from 32 countries that the association between concern and behavior was weaker in societies characterized by higher levels of distrust, belief in external control, and present orientation. In addition, we observed that the concern-behavior association was stronger in societies with higher levels of individualism and looseness. These findings deepen the understanding of the concern-behavior association and psychological barriers. They also highlight the benefits of integrating insights from cross-cultural psychology into environmental psychology research and inform environmental practice.
•Magnitude of the environmental concern-behavior association varies across societies.•It was weaker in societies with stronger distrust and belief in external control.•Also, it was weaker in societies with stronger present orientation.•It was stronger in societies with higher levels of individualism and looseness.
Global issues such as environmental problems and climate change, require collective efforts. Global identity has been linked to the promotion of pro-environmental behavior by international and ...environmental organizations. In environment-related research, this all-inclusive social identity has been consistently related to pro-environmental behavior and environmental concern, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This current systematic review seeks to examine past studies across disciplines that have reported findings on the relationship between global identity and the constructs of pro-environmental behavior and environmental concern and to synthesize findings on the potential pathways behind this relationship. Thirty articles were identified through a systematic search. We found that most studies reported a positive correlation, and the effect of global identity on pro-environmental behavior and environmental concern was stable across studies. Only nine of the studies empirically examined the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. Three major themes of these underlying mechanisms emerged: obligation, responsibility, and relevance. These mediators highlight the role of global identity in pro-environmental behavior and environmental concern
how individuals relate to other humans and how they appraise environmental problems. We also observed a heterogeneity in measurements of global identity and environment-related outcomes. As a topic of interest in multiple disciplines, a variety of global identity labels have been adopted, such as global identity, global social identity, humanity identity, Identification With All Humanity, global/world citizen, connectedness to humanity, global belonging, and psychological sense of global community. Self-report measures of behavior were common, but observations of actual behavior were rare. Knowledge gaps are identified, and future directions are suggested.
Although it is widely accepted that women are more pro-environmental than men, findings regarding gender differences in environmental concern have actually been mixed. In this study, we attempt to ...reconcile these mixed findings by considering the influence of sociocultural contexts. Specifically, we propose that some sociocultural contexts tend to hinder the psychological process that underlies gender differences in environmental concern. We tested this sociocultural hindrance hypothesis with an international survey data set (International Social Survey Programme) that involved respondents from 32 countries. We found that gender differences in environmental concern were smaller in societies with higher levels of gender inequality, economic scarcity, power distance, and collectivism. These results highlight the need to examine both the “why” and “when” questions for gender differences in environmental concern. They also indicate the importance of considering not only individual-level variables but also societal-level factors in the study of environmental concern.
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