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Views of Self and Nature: Implications for Pro-environmental Beliefs and Behaviors, Self-Transcendent Emotions, and Sustainability Practices

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Psychology of Sustainability and Sustainable Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2021) | Viewed by 43915

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Allen R. McConnell

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Guest Editor

Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
Interests: self-nature representations; positive emotions; well-being benefits of pets

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

How people view themselves and the natural world and understand their interaction with nature are critical issues for sustainability. For example, people with an inflated sense of self often act in narcissistic and antisocial ways and harm the environment, whereas people who view nature as encompassing all living organisms, themselves included, exhibit more pro-environmental behaviors and beliefs, experience stronger self-transcendent emotions, and perform more prosocial acts. Similarly, people who view nature as more included in their self-concept show more progressive sustainability beliefs and behaviors. The exploration of relations between the self and nature (e.g., inclusion of nature in self, nature-self size, place identification) builds valuable interdisciplinary bridges between scholars in social sciences and those in environmental sciences. Further, understanding the links between views of self and of nature is central to many promising interventions and pedagogies (e.g., place attachment, community-based conservation, expansion of self-concept).

This Special Issue will examine how considering self, nature, and self–nature relations can help tackle sustainability challenges. Submissions that leverage views of self and nature from the social sciences (broadly defined) in the service of producing prosocial and pro-environmental outcomes are encouraged. These papers should not only make contributions to one’s home disciplines but also be accessible and applicable to scholars, educators, and practitioners in many domains.

This Special Issue invites empirical papers and theoretical contributions that focus on some of the following concepts:

Self–nature representation

Inclusion of nature in self

Self-concept

Self-transcendence

Social and cultural identity

Nature size

Prosocial emotions and behaviors

Proenvironmental behavior

Environmental beliefs

Climate change

Community-based conservation

Place-based conservation

Original papers related to the above concepts that focus on connecting social science perspectives on self and nature with pro-environmental outcomes and sustainability practices are welcome.

Prof. Allen R. McConnell
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

self–nature representations
inclusion of nature in self
self-concept
self-transcendence
social identity
cultural identity
nature size
prosocial behaviour
views of nature
self-transcendence
place-based conservation
positive emotions
awe
pro-environmental beliefs
educational practices in sustainability
climate change

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 2354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Behavior of Youth and Sustainable Development

by Anna Shutaleva, Nikita Martyushev, Zhanna Nikonova, Irina Savchenko, Sofya Abramova, Vladlena Lubimova and Anastasia Novgorodtseva

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010250 - 27 Dec 2021

Cited by 60 | Viewed by 10257

Abstract

The relationship between people and nature is one of the most important current issues of human survival. This circumstance makes it necessary to educate young people who are receptive to global challenges and ready to solve the urgent problems of our time. The purpose of the article is to analyze the experience of the environmental behavior of young people in the metropolis. The authors studied articles and monographs that contain Russian and international experience in the environmental behavior of citizens. The following factors determine people’s behavior: the cognitive capabilities of people who determine the understanding and perception of nature and the value-affective component that determines the attitude towards nature. The next task of the study is surveying young people through an online survey and its analysis. The research was realized in Ekaterinburg, the administrative center of the Sverdlovsk region (Russia). The study of the current ecological situation in Ekaterinburg made it possible to conclude that the environmental problem arises not only and not simply as a problem of environmental pollution and other negative influences of human economic activity. This problem grows into transforming the spontaneous impact of society on nature into a consciously, purposefully, systematically developing harmonious interaction with it. The study results showed that, from the point of view of the youth of Ekaterinburg, the city’s ecological situation is one of the most pressing problems. Despite minor improvements over the past 3–5 years, this problem has not lost relevance, and regional authorities and city residents should be responsible for its solution. Young people know environmental practices, but they often do not apply them systematically. Ecological behavior is encouraged and discussed among friends/acquaintances. The key factors influencing the formation of environmental behavior practices are the mass media and social networks. The most popular social network for obtaining information on ecological practices among young people is Instagram, and the key persons are bloggers. This study did not reveal the influence of the socio-demographic characteristics of young people on the application of eco-behavior practices, which may indicate the need for a survey of a larger sample. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Views of Self and Nature: Implications for Pro-environmental Beliefs and Behaviors, Self-Transcendent Emotions, and Sustainability Practices)

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17 pages, 1054 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Making Pledges More Powerful: Effects on Pro-Environmental Beliefs and Conservation Behavior

by Tyler P. Jacobs, Lauren L. Gottschalk, Mitchell Dandignac and Allen R. McConnell

Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9894; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179894 - 2 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4968

Abstract

We developed pledges that capitalized on several self-related properties (e.g., freedom of choice, actual-ought self-discrepancies, foot-in-door technique) and manipulated two experimental factors: pledge beneficiary and pledge audience. In two studies, participants received a recycling pledge based on a random assignment in a 2 (Beneficiaries: Nature vs. Self) × 2 (Audience: Ingroup vs. Outgroup) design. Afterwards, we assessed their pro-environmental beliefs and provided them with a behavioral opportunity to support conservation (i.e., recycling debriefing forms in Study 1, writing letters to congresspeople regarding an environmental policy in Study 2). In both studies, an interaction between beneficiaries and audience was observed, showing that a recycling pledge framed as benefitting nature and sponsored by a social ingroup led to more progressive environmental beliefs. In Study 2, individuals in the same condition (i.e., the nature-ingroup pledge) wrote more persuasive letters (longer and more sophisticated letters) supporting pro-environmental legislation. Implications for constructing effective pledges and for leveraging the self to promote pro-environmental action are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Views of Self and Nature: Implications for Pro-environmental Beliefs and Behaviors, Self-Transcendent Emotions, and Sustainability Practices)

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12 pages, 1506 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environment, Identity, and Response to Polluted Landscapes

by Susan D. Clayton

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9422; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169422 - 22 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2649

Abstract

Research indicates that beautiful nature can have positive impacts. Does polluted nature have a corresponding negative impact? This paper presents two experiments investigating the impact of viewing images of natural settings, on a college campus, that do or do not contain litter. The moderating role of environmental identity was also examined. Study 1 showed that landscapes with litter evoked more negative emotions among a sample of 332 U.S. residents on MTurk than did landscapes without litter. Surprisingly, natural landscapes did not have a more positive effect than images of buildings. In Study 2, using an MTurk sample of 310 U.S. residents, results were similar to Study 1 but were qualified by an interaction between condition and EID: those high in EID were more strongly affected by the images. These results suggest that viewing polluted landscapes can have a negative effect on emotions (hedonic wellbeing), and that these effects are stronger among those who have a stronger relationship with nature. There was no evidence for an impact on eudaimonic wellbeing as represented by a sense of meaning, efficacy, or ethicality. Given the continuing degradation of our natural environment, further research on the impacts of polluted landscapes is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Views of Self and Nature: Implications for Pro-environmental Beliefs and Behaviors, Self-Transcendent Emotions, and Sustainability Practices)

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18 pages, 912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Balanced Structure of Environmental Identity

by Coral M. Bruni, P. Wesley Schultz and Anna Woodcock

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8168; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158168 - 21 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3559

Abstract

Connectedness with nature refers to an individual’s beliefs about their relationship with the natural environment. The current paper integrates connectedness with nature into a broader framework of balanced identity theory as a form of self-concept, and presents new data showing that individuals tend toward balanced-congruity and hold cognitive configurations that balance self-concept, environmental attitudes, and self-esteem. In essence, when an individual scores highly on one of these constructs, it is likely that they will score highly on the other two constructs. Two hundred and seventy-six undergraduate students completed explicit and implicit measures of connectedness with nature, attitudes toward nature, and self-esteem. The balanced-congruity principle was supported with implicit measures (e.g., Implicit Association Test), but not explicitly with self-report measures. Results suggest that attitudes toward nature, connectedness with nature, and self-esteem form a balanced triadic structure of implicit environmental identity. The findings extend our understanding of connectedness with nature, by integrating it into a broader framework that links connectedness, attitudes, and self-esteem as a triadic form of environmental identity. This finding has important implications for practitioners interested in fostering environmental identities and promoting sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Views of Self and Nature: Implications for Pro-environmental Beliefs and Behaviors, Self-Transcendent Emotions, and Sustainability Practices)

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18 pages, 6049 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Collective Identity Supporting Sustainability Transformations in Ecovillage Communities

by Ciska Ulug, Lummina Horlings and Elen-Maarja Trell

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8148; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158148 - 21 Jul 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5280

Abstract

Ecovillages are collective projects that attempt to integrate sustainability principles into daily community life, while also striving to be demonstration projects for mainstream society. As spaces of experimentation, they can provide valuable insights into sustainability transformations. Through shared values and interpersonal connections, ecovillages possess collective identities, which provide a platform for enacting their ideals. However, many ecovillage residents question how to best enhance their role as models, resource centers, and pieces of a greater movement toward sustainability transformations, while simultaneously preserving their unique community and identity. In relation to the above, this paper addresses the questions: What can collective identity in ecovillage communities teach us about the objective and subjective dimensions of sustainability transformations? Furthermore, how can the perspective of collective identity highlight challenges for ecovillages for initiating sustainability transformations? Sustainability transformations encompass objective (behaviors) and subjective (values) dimensions; however, the interactions between these spheres deserve more scholarly attention. Using ethnographic data and in-depth interviews from three ecovillages in the United States, this paper reveals the value in collective identity for underscoring belonging and interpersonal relationships in sustainability transformations. Furthermore, the collective identity perspective exposes paradoxes and frictions between ecovillages and the societal structures and systems they are embedded within. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Views of Self and Nature: Implications for Pro-environmental Beliefs and Behaviors, Self-Transcendent Emotions, and Sustainability Practices)

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9 pages, 385 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Images of Nature, Nature-Self Representation, and Environmental Attitudes

by Lauren E. Ambrose, Adi Wiezel, Erika B. Pages and Michelle N. Shiota

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 8025; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13148025 - 19 Jul 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4231

Abstract

Prior work suggests that feeling small relative to nature (Nature-Self Size; NSS) and inclusion of nature in the self-concept (INS) are both associated with more pro-environmental attitudes. The present experiment asked whether exposure to stimuli eliciting awe—an emotion often evoked by extraordinary panoramic views of nature, characterized by subjective experience of “small self” and modulation of reliance on stored concepts—leads to increased NSS and/or INS, thereby promoting pro-environmental policy attitudes. Participants in this online experiment were randomly assigned to view photographs of extraordinary panoramic nature scenes, prosaic nature images, desirable foods, or neutral scenes before completing measures of INS, NSS, and support for environmental conservation policies. Analyses revealed that INS significantly mediated the effects of exposure to panoramic nature scenes (versus a neutral control) on pro-environmental policy attitudes; however, the same effect was observed for the prosaic nature and tasty foods images. Results suggest that exposure to awe-eliciting stimuli can promote pro-environmental attitudes via modulation of the self-concept, but this may be due to pleasant affect rather than awe per se. Future research with real-life stimuli and longitudinal designs is needed to further examine the lasting effects of awe and other emotional states on the self-concept and associated environmental attitudes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Views of Self and Nature: Implications for Pro-environmental Beliefs and Behaviors, Self-Transcendent Emotions, and Sustainability Practices)

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15 pages, 944 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differentiated Impact of Politics- and Science-Oriented Education on Pro-Environmental Behavior: A Case Study of Chinese University Students

by Ran Wang, Tiantian Jia, Rui Qi, Jinhua Cheng, Kang Zhang, Erwei Wang and Xi Wang

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 616; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020616 - 11 Jan 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3970

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand the differentiated impact of politics- and science-oriented education on pro-environmental behavior among university students. A questionnaire was designed and sent to more than 14,000 university students from 152 universities in China using the snowball sampling method. In the questionnaire, the environmental knowledge was divided innovatively into two parts: Science-oriented knowledge spread by traditional environmental education and politics-oriented knowledge spread through political education. The structural equation model was used to understand the conduction path of pro-environmental knowledge, attitude, and behavior. It shows that politics-oriented knowledge has a quicker and stronger effect on improving behavior than science-oriented knowledge. Moreover, there is a significant positive correlation between science- and politics-oriented knowledge. However, the attitude is positively influenced by science-oriented knowledge, instead of politics-oriented knowledge. It suggests that traditional environmental education and political education should be integrated to promote the pro-environmental behavior of university students indirectly and directly, which may provide an opportunity for pro-environmental political education in other countries. The study contributes important theoretical and practical implications for environmental education and sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Views of Self and Nature: Implications for Pro-environmental Beliefs and Behaviors, Self-Transcendent Emotions, and Sustainability Practices)

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Review

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14 pages, 1248 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Triadic Framework: Integrating Nature, Communities, and Belief Systems into the Self-Concept for Sustained Conservation Action

by Jill Korach and Allen R. McConnell

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8348; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158348 - 27 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4480

Abstract

It can be difficult for people to perform the behaviors necessary to address sustainability challenges because selfish actions are often more appealing than choices that benefit nature and future generations. Although many useful approaches to pro-environmentalism focus on strengthening relatively simple bivariate relations (e.g., nature connectedness and community-based conservation), we propose that more effective outcomes can be realized by combining three mutually reinforcing elements that support sustainability. Specifically, we outline our Triadic Framework, which focuses on the integration of nature, communities, and belief systems with each other and within people’s self-concepts. In addition to emphasizing the shared overlap among these reciprocal elements, this framework stresses that greater integration of one’s sense of self with these elements will heighten personal motivations to perform sustainable actions. Our paper examines (1) the interconnections among nature, communities, and belief systems and (2) how these three elements can be interrelated and enmeshed in people’s self-concepts to produce greater commitment to conservation. Finally, we describe a real-world example of the Triadic Framework used effectively to promote conservation of mature forests in the Western Ghats of India, and we outline ways for others to leverage this framework to address everyday sustainability challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Views of Self and Nature: Implications for Pro-environmental Beliefs and Behaviors, Self-Transcendent Emotions, and Sustainability Practices)

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Other

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9 pages, 226 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

Psychology of Dwelling and Visual Appropriations—An Anthropological Application

by Lucian Mocrei-Rebrean

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010082 - 22 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2663

Abstract

We find ourselves situated within a world that can be experienced visually, for the first time, in its wholeness. Using conceptual analysis, we intend to show that notions born within the practice of habitation, such as the sense of place, place attachment, and hearth, can help us evaluate the psychological implications of the images of Earth taken from space. We chose a phenomenological approach to human habitation because it allows concepts pertaining to connected and inherently interdisciplinary fields, for instance environmental psychology or human geography, to be reunited under the umbrella of an anthropological interpretation. The sensory and imaginary connotations of the notion of place may be noticed starting from the distinction between space as mathematical abstraction and concrete places being experienced directly. An analysis of the nature of this connection leads to the finding that we actively imagine and reimagine the surrounding world as an unfolding space in which we are constantly attempting to dwell. What is of particular interest for us is the manner in which technologically-mediated visual experience may inspire cognitive representations or may generate profound emotions, such as the attachment to a particular place. Therefore, the value of imagination for the anthropology of habitation is not rendered by its compensatory role, but by its link to ontogenesis. Familiar places, which continue to attract us, are capable of triggering unique imaginary processes, reveries which refer us to the primordial steps of ontogenesis with outmost intensity. The process of subjective appropriation of the world begins with that privileged space of origin specific to each of us, the space which we identify with most intensely. Thus, the psychological impact of the image of Earth from space: we become intensely aware that this planet is our Place within a hostile universe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Views of Self and Nature: Implications for Pro-environmental Beliefs and Behaviors, Self-Transcendent Emotions, and Sustainability Practices)

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