Nature-protective behavior cannot be sufficiently explained using a pure rational/cognitive approach. Therefore, in a questionnaire study ( N = 281), the focus was on emotional motivations of this behavior, especially on a newly conceptu- alized construct: emotional affinity toward nature. All constructs were measured by reliable and valid scales. Multiple regression analyses reveal that (a) emotional affin - ity is as powerful to predict nature-protective behavior as indignation and interest in nature and together these three predictors explain up to 47% of variance of the crite - rion variables, and (b) 39% of emotional affinity toward nature traces back to present and past experiences in natural environments. The resulting integrative path model is discussed. Theoretical conclusions are drawn, and options for practical intervention are derived.

Emotional affinity toward nature as a motivational basis to protect nature

Environmental concern: conceptual definitions, measurement methods, and research findings

Cet article presente trois raisons pour lesquelles l’influence de la connaissance sur le comportement ecologique est systematiquement sous-estime. Tout d’abord, ce n’est pas la simple masse de connaissances disponibles que determine le comportement: differentes formes de connaissances doivent converger pour favoriser le comportement ecologique. Ensuite, l’impact de la connaissance n’est pas detecte parce que certaines procedures statistiques ne controlent pas les erreurs de mesure ni ne revelent avec precision les influences interferentes. Enfin, les facteurs psychologiques tels que la connaissance ont apparemment une influence limitee sur le comportement ecologique en presence de fortes pressions relevant de la situation. Mais quand une evaluation du comportement ecologique fait systematiquement appel aux contraintes des situations (application d’un test), on peut s’apercevoir que la connaissance a un impact significatif sur le comportement ecologique.

The present paper argues for three reasons why knowledge's influence on ecological behavior is underestimated systematically. First, it is not the mere amount of knowledge available that determines behavior. Different forms of knowledge must work together in a convergent manner if they are to foster ecological behavior. Second, knowledge's effect remains undetected also, because some statistical procedures neither correct for measurement error attenuation nor uncover mediated influences accurately. Third, psychological factors such as knowledge apparently have a limited influence on ecological behavior when strong situational constraints are effective. When an ecological behavior measure makes—as a performance test—systematic use of situational influences though, knowledge can be revealed as affecting ecological behavior significantly.

Ecological behavior's dependency on different forms of knowledge

This paper critically reviews a number of cross-national studies of perceptions of risks which have been conducted in accordance with the 'psychometric paradigm' developed by the Oregon research group in the 1970s. It considers attempts to study risk perception comparatively, from other theoretical and methodological perspectives, and discusses various issues that are highlighted in a comparative framework, relating to distinctions between 'objective' and 'perceived' risk, the role of communication and the media, the political system and various societal determinants such as marginality, gender and ethnicity. One of the main conclusions is that comparative studies of risk perception need to be further refined, both methodologically and theoretically.

Comparative studies of risk perception: a review of twenty years of research

This multinational study examined the relationship between values, awareness of the consequences for environmental damage, ascribed responsibility, and proenvironmental behaviors. Survey data were collected from college students in Mexico (n = 187), Nicaragua (n = 78), Peru (n = 160), Spain (n = 187), and the United States (n = 345). Measures included items from Schwartz's values instrument, self-reported proenvironmental behaviors, ascribed responsibility, the New Environmental Paradigm, and demographics. Regression analyses revealed a positive relationship between items within self-transcendence (especially the environment-oriented items) and proenvironmental behavior in Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, and the United States. Additional analyses provided partial support for the extension of Schwartz's model of norm-activation to proenvironmental behavior.

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Values and Proenvironmental Behavior A Five-Country Survey

Ambulatory assessment refers to the use of computer-assisted methodology for self-reports, behavior records, or physiological measurements, while the participant undergoes normal daily activities. Since the 1980s, portable microcomputer systems and physiolog- ical recorders/analyzers have been developed for this purpose. In contrast to their use in medicine, these new methods have hardly entered the domain of psychology. Questionnaire methods are still preferred, in spite of the known deficiencies of retrospective self-reports. Assessment strategies include: continuous monitoring, monitoring with time- and event-sampling methods, in-field psychological testing, field experimentation, interactive assessment, symptom monitoring, and self-management. These approaches are innovative and address ecological validity, context specificity, and are suitable for practical applications. The advantages of this methodology, as well as issues of acceptance, compliance, and reactivity are discussed. Many technical developments and research contributions have come from the German-speaking countries and the Netherlands. Nonetheless, the current Decade of Behavior (APA) calls for a more widespread use of such techniques and developments in assessment. This position paper seeks to make the case for this approach by demonstrating the advantages - and in some domains - necessities of ambulatory monitoring methodology for a behavioral science orientation in psychology.

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Ambulatory Assessment - Monitoring Behavior in Daily Life Settings A Behavioral-Scientific Challenge for Psychology

In the first part of this paper existing evidence (mostly from earth and atmospheric sciences) on global climatic changes and their dependence (and effect) upon human action is briefly reviewed. Reference is made to existing major international programmes of research focusing on these climatic changes. The main part of the paper concentrates on the study of global change within the framework of the social sciences. Five psychological characteristics of global environmental change are explained which would account for the human inability to respond adequately without the supportive means of information presentation and processing. Future research on psychological dimensions of global change should explore these in greater detail and study modes of social communication that will become instrumental in implementing such support systems. Dans la premiere partie de cet article, les preuves (provenant surtout des sciences de la terre et de l'atmosphere) concernant les changements climatiques globaux, a...

The Psychology of Global Environmental Change: Some Basic Data and an Agenda for Cooperative International Research

Zusammenfassung. Ambulantes Assessment erfasst Selbstberichte, Verhaltensweisen oder physiologische Messwerte mit computer-unterstutzen Methoden, wahrend die Untersuchten ihrem normalen Tageslauf nachgehen. Seit den 1980er Jahren wurden dazu portable Mikrocomputer und Messysteme entwickelt. Im Unterschied zur Medizin werden diese neuen Methoden in der Psychologie bis heute nur zogernd genutzt. Hier dominieren weiterhin Fragebogen, trotz der bekannten Mangel retrospektiver Selbstbeurteilungen. Zu den ambulanten Assessmentstrategien gehoren u.a.: Kontinuierliches Monitoring, zeit- oder ereignis-abhangiges Monitoring, Feld-Diagnostik, Feld-Experiment, Interaktives Monitoring, Symptom-Monitoring und Selbst-Management. Es sind innovative Ansatze mit Perspektive auf okologische Validitat, Kontextbezug und Praxisnahe. Die methodischen Vorzuge des Ambulanten Assessment sowie Akzeptanz, Compliance und Reaktivitat werden erlautert. Viele der technischen Entwicklungen und Forschungsarbeiten stammen aus den deutschsp...

Ambulantes Assessment - Verhalten im Alltagskontext erfassen

Research teams in five countries (France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, UK) developed in common a comparative study on individual attitudes and behaviors towards the environment, and on the importance of environmental issues in the media of these countries. The sample was composed of 742 subjects, teachers and engineers. Results presented here focus on a cross-countries comparison of the media analysis and the questionnaire data. Important differences are observed between the level of pro-environmental behaviors and the nature of their determinants.

Kurt Pawlik

Papers

Ambulatory Assessment - Monitoring Behavior in Daily Life Settings A Behavioral-Scientific Challenge for Psychology

The Psychology of Global Environmental Change: Some Basic Data and an Agenda for Cooperative International Research

Ambulantes Assessment - Verhalten im Alltagskontext erfassen

Determinants of Pro-Environmental Behaviors

Conducting research in daily life: A historical review.