Experiences of pride, not guilt, predict pro-environmental behavior when pro-environmental descriptive norms are more positive

Emotions can greatly influence behavior, yet research on links between incidental emotions and pro-environmental behavior is limited. The present study uses an experience sampling design to examine how pride and guilt relate to daily pro-environmental behavior. Ninety-six university students recorded their engagement in specific pro-environmental behaviors, and their feelings of pride and guilt about these behaviors, at four time points each day for three consecutive days. Results showed that pro-environmental behavior during a 2.5-hour time period was positively related to pride, and negatively related to guilt, during that same time period. Pride about environmental behavior was positively related to subsequent engagement in pro-environmental behavior (i.e., during the following 2.5-hour time period), but only for people who perceived more positive pro-environmental descriptive norms. Guilt was not related to subsequent pro-environmental behavior. We discuss implications for further research on the complex associations between daily experiences of moral emotions and pro-environmental behavior

a sedimentological record of early miocene ice advance and retreat and 2a drill hole mcmurdo sound antarctica

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Track D Social Science, Human Rights and Political Science

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138414/1/jia218442.pd

The relationship between country and individual household wealth and climate change concern: the mediating role of control

Published online: 01 April 2021The relationship between wealth and climate change concern has been a focus of several studies. In this article, we hypothesize that richer households (and countries) are less concerned about climate change because wealth provides a buffer against some of the related risks. This leads people in wealthier countries and households to perceive a greater sense of control over climate change impacts, which in turn results in lower levels of concern. We tested this hypothesis using a unique household survey encompassing 11 OECD countries and over 10,000 households and applying mixed multi-level regression models. Our results confirmed a statistically significant negative relationship between country and household wealth and individuals’ perceptions of the seriousness of climate change. This study contributes to current literature by showing that this relationship is mediated through sense of control, measured at the country level by the country’s readiness index and at the individual household level by the extent of adoption of energy efficiency improvements. These findings raise the question of how best to incentivize action on climate change amongst those with the ability—but not necessarily the motivation—to respond.Céline Nauges, Sarah Ann Wheeler and Kelly S. Fieldin

Connection to nature is predicted by family values, social norms and personal experiences of nature

To achieve broad-based public support for conservation policies and actions, we need to understand what strengthens a person’s connection to nature, since that has been shown to translate into environmentally protective attitudes and behaviour. We conducted a national survey in Singapore to investigate the associations of family values (biospheric, altruistic, and egoistic), social norms relating to spending time in nature, and experiences of nature, with three dimensions of connection to nature (measured using the nature-relatedness scale) – NR-Perspective (cognitive), NR-Self (affective) and NR-Experience (experiential). We found that family values were significantly associated with all three dimensions of a person’s connection to nature. Biospheric and altruistic family values had a direct and positive association with NR-Perspective, while egoistic family values had a direct but negative association. The relationship between biospheric values and the three dimensions of connection to nature was also mediated through social norms of family and friends, and experiences of nature. Our findings indicate that family values, social norms and experiences of nature can variously explain different aspects of connection to nature, and that strategies focused on strengthening and/or appealing to biospheric family values, and the design of interventions that make spending time in nature with family and friends a social norm, could be useful in enhancing connection to nature in people