Predictors of environmental behaviour: a comparison of known groups

Pensini, Pamela M., Slugoski, Ben R., and Caltabiano, Nerina J. (2012) Predictors of environmental behaviour: a comparison of known groups. Management of Environmental Quality, 23 (5). pp. 536-545.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777831211255...
 
2
1


Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how different community groups differ in the extent to which environmentally friendly behaviours are performed, as well as how they differ across a host of other psychologically relevant variables.

Design/methodology/approach – The study was conducted via a self-report questionnaire delivered to four community samples (environmentalists; performance car enthusiasts; young and older people; n=124) assessing demographic information, ecological behaviour, and the psychological variables.

Findings – Results showed that environmentalists engage in more ecological behaviour, are more cooperative, have stronger social and personal norms, a more internal locus of control, feel more collective guilt, and identify less with Australia than performance car enthusiasts. Differences in younger and older populations revealed that young people engage in less ecological behaviour, cooperate less, have a more external locus of control, and identify less with Australia.

Practical implications – The study may provide a starting-point for future research and behaviour change campaigns aiming to develop methods for increasing ecological behaviour in specific segments of the community.

Originality/value – The paper is important in understanding factors contributing to ecological behaviour, and differs from previous research in that it identifies that certain variables are represented differently in different community samples.

Item ID: 26273
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1477-7835
Keywords: Australia, collective guilt, communities, cooperation, ecological behaviour, ecology, ingroup identification, locus of control, norms, social groups
Date Deposited: 11 Apr 2013 00:33
FoR Codes: 17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 75%
05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0599 Other Environmental Sciences > 059999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 25%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9299 Other Health > 929999 Health not elsewhere classified @ 50%
95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9599 Other Cultural Understanding > 959999 Cultural Understanding not elsewhere classified @ 25%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9699 Other Environment > 969999 Environment not elsewhere classified @ 25%
Downloads: Total: 1
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page