Connections with nature and environmental behaviors

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Conservation Behavior

Background:

• Environmental attitudes influence behaviors, but their origins are under-researched.
• Exploring the foundational role of 'connections with nature' in environmental attitudes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between explicit and implicit connections with nature and pro-environmental behaviors.
• To differentiate the impact of explicit versus implicit nature connectedness on deliberate versus spontaneous environmental actions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized self-report scales to measure explicit connections with nature.
• Employed a computerized Implicit Association Test (IAT) for implicit nature connectedness.
• Conducted a situational simulation experiment to assess deliberate and spontaneous environmental behaviors.

Main Results:

• Explicit connections with nature positively correlated with deliberate pro-environmental behaviors.
• Implicit connections with nature positively correlated with spontaneous environmental behaviors.
• Explicit and implicit nature connectedness were found to be independent constructs.

Conclusions:

• Confirms that connections with nature positively promote environmental behavior.
• Suggests enhancing individuals' nature connectedness as a strategy to encourage pro-environmental actions.