Summary
To establish national and worldwide sustainable development, changes in individual behavior patterns and decision-making processes are necessary. We argue that environment-specific cognitions and emotions are decisive for sustainable behavior and environment endangering decisions. Data show that the influential cognitions and emotions do not represent a self centered, but rather a moral perspective. Cognitions like environment-specific control beliefs, ecological responsibility attributions, environmental justice appraisals and environment-specific moral emotions, such as indignation about insufficient sustainable political decision-making, are the most powerful predictors for sustainable behavior. Other emotional categories, for example, emotional affinity towards nature, have additional effects. In sum, the neglected emotional perspective on sustainable behavior needs to be included on the level of model building, as well as on the practical level of intervention programs. Corresponding guidelines are formulated at the end of the chapter.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abell, P. (1992). Is rational choice theory a rational choice of theory? In J.S. Coleman, & T. J. Fararo (Eds.), Rational choice theory: Advocacy and critique (pp. 183–206). Newbury Park: Sage.
Ajzen, I. (1991). The Theory of Planned Behavior. Some unresolved issues. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179–211.
Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. New York: Prentice Hall.
Arbuthnot, J. (1977). The roles of attitudinal and personality variables in the prediction of environmental behavior and knowledge. Environment and Behavior, 9, 217–232.
Auhagen, A.E., & Neuberger, K. (1994). Verantwortung gegeniiber der Umwelt: Eine Studie über umweltbewußtes Handeln [Environmental responsibility: A study on proenvironmental behavior]. Gruppendynamik, 26, 319–332.
Bamberg, S., & Schmidt, P. (1993). Verkehrsmittelwahl-eine Anwendung der Theorie geplantes Verhalten [Mobility decisions — an application of the theory of planned behavior]. Zeitschrift für Sozialpsychologie, 24, 25–37.
Bayertz, K. (Ed.). (1995). Verantwortung: Prinzip oder Problem? [Responsibility: principle or problem?]. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft.
Becker, R., & Kals, E. (1997). Verkehrsbezogene Entscheidungen und Urteile: Uber die Vorhersage von umwelt-und gesundheitsbezogenen Verbotsforderungen und Verkehrsmittelwahlen [Traffic-related decisions and judgments: About the prediction of environmental-and health-related prohibitive demands and mobility decisions]. Zeitschrift für Sozialpsychologie, 28, 197–209.
Becker, LJ., Seligman, C., Fazio, R.H., & Darley, J.M. (1981). Relating attitudes to residental energy use. Environment and Behavior, 13, 590–609.
Berkowitz, L., & Lutterman, K.G. (1968). The traditional socially responsible personality. Public Opinion Quarterly, 32, 169–185.
Bierhoff, H.-W. (2000). Skala der sozialen Verantwortung nach Berkowitz und Daniels: Entwicklung und Validierung [Social responsibility scale according to Berkowitz and Daniels: Development and validation]. Diagnostica, 40, 18–28.
Brown, L. R. (2001). State ofthe world 2001. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
Burger, J.M. (1985). Desire for control and achievement-related behaviors. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48, 1520–1533.
Calließ, J., & Lob, R.E. (1987). Handbuch Praxis der Umwelt-und Friedenserziehung [A handbook: Practice of environmental and peace education]. Düsseldorf: Schwann-Bagel.
Clayton, S. (1994). Appeals to justice in the environmental debate. Journal of Social Issues, 50, 13–27.
Coleman, J.S., & Fararo, T.J. (Eds.). (1992). Rational choice theory: Advocacy and critique. Newbury Park: Sage.
De Haan, G., & Kuckartz, U. (1996). Umweltbewusstsein. Denken und Handeln in Umweltkrisen [Environmental consciousness: Thinking and acting in environmental crisis]. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag.
Devall, B. (1982). Ecological consciousness and ecological resisting: Guidelines for comprehension and research. Humboldt Journal of Social Relations, 9, 177–196.
DeYoung, R. (1986). Some psychological aspects of recycling: The structure of conservation satisfactions. Environment and Behavior, 18, 435–449.
Eckensberger, L.H., Breit, H., & Doring, T. (1999). Ethik und Barriere in umweltbezogenen Entscheidungen: Eine entwicklungspsychologische Perspektive. In V. Linneweber, & E. Kals (Eds.), Umweltgerechtes Handeln [Proenvironmental behavior] (pp. 165–189). Berlin: Springer.
Eigner, S., & Schmuck, P. (1998). Biographische Interviews mit Umwelt-und Naturschützern [Biographical interviews with environmentalists]. Umweltpsychologie, 2 (2), 42–53.
Evans, G.W., & Jacobs, S.V. (1981). Air pollution and human behavior. Journal of Social Issues, 37, 95–125.
Frijda, N. (1993). The place of appraisal in emotion. Special Issue: Appraisal and beyond: The issues of cognitive determinants of emotion. Cognition and Emotion, 7, 357–387.
Gebhard, U. (1994). Kind und Natur [Child and nature]. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag.
Gigliotti, L.M. (1990). Environmental education: What went wrong? What can be done? Journal of Environmental Education, 22, 9–12.
Hardin, G. (1968). The tragedy of the commons. Science, 162, 1243–1248.
Hazard, B.P. (1998). Zum Umgang mit Angst vor Gesundheitsrisiken durch schadigende Umwelteinflüsse. In E. Kals (Ed.), Umwelt und Gesundheit [Environment and health] (pp. 119–132). Weinheim: Psychologie Verlags Union.
Henning, J.-H., & Six, B. (1980). Konventionelle Merkmalserfassung versus Differentielle Skalierung. [Conventional operationalization of traits versus differential scaling]. Zeitschrift für Differentielle und Diagnostische Psychologie, 2, 149–168.
Hodge, T. (1997). Toward a conceptual framework for assessing progress toward sustainability. Social Indicators Research, 40 (1–2), 5–98.
Horwitz, W.A. (1994) Characteristics of environmental ethics: Environmental activists’ accounts. Ethics and Behavior, 4, 345–467.
Huebner, R.B., & Lipsey, M.W. (1981). The relationship of three measures of locus of control to environmental activism. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 2, 45–58.
Hummel, C.F., Levit, L., & Loomis, RJ. (1978). Perceptions of energy crisis. Who is blamed and how do citizens react to environment-lifestyle trade-offs? Environment and Behavior, 10, 37–88.
Jildes, U. (1997). Nachhaltige Sprachverwirrung. Auf der Suche nach einer Theorie des Sustainable Development [Sustainable language confusion. Searching for a theory of sustainable development]. Politische Ökologie, 52, 26–29.
Kaiser, F.-G., Fuhrer, U., Weber, O., Ofner, T., & Bühler-Ilieva, E. (2001). Responsibility and ecological behaviour: a meta-analysis of the strength and the extent of a causal link. In A.E. Auhagen, & H.-W. Bierhoff (Eds.), Responsibility: The many faces of a social phenomenon (pp. 109–126). London: Routledge.
Kaiser, F.-G., Ranney, M., Hartig, T., & Bowler, P.A. (1999). Ecological behavior, environmental attitude, and feelings of responsibility for the environment. European Psychologist, 4 (2), 59–74.
Kals, E. (1996a). Verantwortliches Umweltverhalten [Responsible proenvironmental behavior]. Weinheim: Psychologie Verlags Union.
Kals, E. (1996b). Are proenvironmental commitments motivated by health concerns or by perceived justice? In L. Montada & M. Lerner (Eds.), Current societal concerns about justice (pp. 231–258). New York: Plenum Press.
Kals, E. (2000). Gefühle, die unser umweltbezogenes Handeln steuern. In E. Kals, N. Platz, & R. Wimmer (Eds.), Emotionen in der Umweltdiskussion [Emotions in the environmental debate] (pp. 127–140). Wiesbaden: Deutscher Universitätsverlag.
Kals, E., Maes, J., & Becker, R. (2001). The overestimated impact of selfinterest and the underestimated impact of justice motives. Trames, 5, 269–287.
Kals, E., & Montada, L. (1994). Umweltschutz und die Verantwortung der Burger [Pollution control and the ecological responsibility of the citizens]. Zeitschrift fur Sozialpsychologie, 25, 326–337.
Kals, E., & Russell, Y. (in press). Individual conceptions of justice and their potential for explaining proenvironmental commitments and behaviors. Social Justice Research. Special issue: Applying social justice research to environmental decision making.
Kals, E., Schumacher, D., & Montada, L. (1999). Emotional affinity toward nature as a motivational basis to protect nature. Environment & Behavior, 31 (2), 178–202.
Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1989). The experience of nature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kastenholz, H.G., Erdmann, K,-H., & Wolff, M. (Eds.). (1996). Nachhaltige Entwicklung. Zukunjtschancen fur Mensch und Umwelt [Sustainable development. Future chances for man and environment]. Berlin: Springer.
Keul, A. (1995). Stadt und Wohlbefinden — eine Synthese. In A. Keul (Ed.), Wohlbefinden in der Stadt [Wellbeing in the city] (pp. 232–248). Weinheim: Psychologie Verlags Union.
Kinnear, T.C., Taylor, J.R., & Ahmed, S.A. (1974). Ecologically concerned consumers: Who are they? Journal of Marketing, 38, 20–24.
Kirsch, I. (1985). Self-efficacy and expectancy: Old wine with new labels. Journal ofPersonality and Social Psychology, 49, 824–830.
Krampen, G., Martini, M., & Ronco, C. (1996). Zur transnationalen Angemessenheit eines handlungstheoretischen Personlichkeitsmodells fur Analysen umweltbewussten Handelns [The transnational suitability of an action theory model of personality in the analysis of responsible environmental behavior]. Sociologus, 46 (2), 175–195.
Kreibich, R. (Ed.). (1996). Nachhaltige Entwicklung. Leitbild für die Zukunjt von Wirtschaft und Gesellschajt [Sustainable development. Guidelines for the future of economy and society]. Weinheim: Beltz.
Kruse, L., & Arlt, R. (1984). Environment and behavior. An international and multidisciplinary bibliography. 1970–1981. München: Saur.
Kruse, L., & Schwarz, V. (1988). Environment and behavior. Part II. An international and multidisciplinary bibliography. 1982–1987. München: Saur.
Langeheine, R., & Lehmann, J. (1986). Die Bedeutung der Erziehung für das Umweltbewußtsein [The impact of education on environmental consciousness]. Kiel: Institut fur die Pädagogik der Naturwissenschaften (IPN).
Levenson, H. (1974). Activism and powerful others: Distinctions within the concept of internal-external control. Journal of Personality and Assessment, 38, 377–383.
Linneweber, V. (1998). Nachhaltige Entwicklung als unscharfes Prädikat [Sustainable development as fuzzy set]. Umweltpsychologie, 2 (1), 66–77.
Lynne, G.E., & Rola, L.R. (1988). Improving attitude-behavior prediction models with economic variables: Farmer actions toward soil conservation. Journal ofSocial Psychology, 128, 19–28.
Lyons, E., & Breakwell, G. M. (1994). Factors predicting environmental concern and indifference in 13-to 16-year-olds. Environment and Behavior, 26, 223–238.
Maes, J. (1995). To control and to be controlled — presentation of a two-waysquestionnaire for the assessment of beliefs in control. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 11, Supplement No. 1, 8–9.
Maes, J. (1998). Existentielle Schuld und Verantwortung fur den Aufbau an ostdeutschen Hochschulen. In B. Reichle & M. Schmitt (Eds.), Verantwortung, Gerechtigke it und Moral (pp. 99–114) [Responsibility, justice and moral]. Weinheim: Juventa.
Maes, J. (2001). Solidarität — eine Frage der Persönlichkeit? Das Beispiel der Solidaritat Westdeutscher mit Ostdeutschen. In H.-W. Bierhoff & D. Fetchenhauer (Eds.), Solidarität, Konjlikt, Umwelt und Dritte Welt (pp. 293–320) [Solidarity, conflict, environment, and Third World]. Opladen: Leske & Budrich.
Maloney, M.P., & Ward, M.P. (1973). Ecology: Let’ s hear from people. An objective scale for the measurement of ecological attitudes and knowledge. American Psychologist, 28, 538–586.
Montada, L. (1989). Bildung der Gefühle [Education of emotions]. Zeitschrift fur Padagogik, 35, 293–312.
Montada, L. (1998). Gerechtigkeitsmotiv und Eigeninteresse [Justice motive and self-interest]. Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaften, 3, 413–430.
Montada, L., & Kals, E. (1998). A theory of “willingness for continued responsible commitment”: Research examples from the fields of pollution control and health protection (Berichte aus der Arbeitsgruppe “Verantwortung, Gerechtigkeit, Moral” Nr. 114). Trier: Universität Trier, Fachbereich I — Psychologie.
Montada, L., & Kals, E. (2000). Political implications of environmental psychology. International Journal of Psychology, 35 (2), 168–176.
Navarro, P.L., Simpson-Housley, P., & DeMan, A.F. (1987). Anxiety, locus of control, and appraisal of air pollution. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 64, 811–814.
Nöldner, W. (1984). Psychologie und Umweltprobleme. Unveröffentlichte Dissertation [Psychology and environmental problems. Unpublished PhD thesis]. Regensburg: Universität Regensburg.
Opotow, S., & Clayton, S. (1994). Green justice: Conceptions of fairness and the natural world. Journal ofSocial Issues, 50 (3), 1–12.
Pawlik, K. (1991). The psychology of global environmental change: Some basic data and an agenda for cooperative international research. International Journal of Psychology, 26, 547–563.
Platt, J. (1973). Social traps. American Psychologist, 28, 641–651.
Rohrmann, B. (1990). Partizipation und Protest. In L. Kruse, C.-F. Graumann, & E.-D. Lantermann (Eds.), Ökologische Psychologie [Ecological psychology] (pp. 645–653). Weinheim: Psychologie Verlags Union.
Rotter, J.B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80 (1, Whole No. 609).
Russell, Y. (2001). Intergenerationelle Verantwortlichkeit und Gerechtigkeit im globalen Umweltschutz. Unveröffentlichte Dissertation [Intergenerational responsibility and justice in global environmental protection. Unpublished Phd thesis]. Trier: Universität Trier.
Schahn, J. (1996). Die Erfassung und Veränderung des Umweltbewußtseins [Assessment and change of environmental consciousness]. Frankfurt a.M.: Lang.
Schmidt, L. (1988). Die ökologische Perspektive in der Verkehrspsychologie [The ecological perspective within traffic psychology]. Psychologie in Österreich, 8, 136–141.
Schumacher, D. (1996). Bindungen an die Natur und ökologische Verantwortung als Motive umweltrelevanten Verhaltens. Unveröffentlichte Diplomarbeit [Ties with nature and environmental responsibility as motives of environment-relevant behavior. Unpublished master thesis]. Trier: Universität Trier.
Seel, H.-J., Sichler, R., & Fischerlehner, B. (Hrsg.). (1993). Mensch — Natur [Man — nature]. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag.
Shaver, K.G. (1985). The attribution of blame. Causality, responsibility, and blameworthiness. New York: Springer.
Sheldon, K. & Schmuck, P. (2001). Suggestions for healthy goal striving. In P. Schmuck & K. Sheldon (Eds.), Life goals and well-being (pp. 216–230). Göttingen: Hogrefe.
Sherman, M.F., Perez, M.E., & Sherman, N.C. (1981). Motorists’ locus of control, behavioral intentions regarding gasoline conservation, and confidence in measures to promote it. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 52, 115–118.
Sia, A.P., Hungerford, H.R., & Tomera, A.N. (1986). Selected predictors of responsible environmental behavior: An analysis. Journal of Environmental Education, 17, 31–40.
Sivek, OJ., & Hungerford, H. (1989/90). Predictors of responsible behavior in members of three Wisconsin conservation organizations. Journal of Environmental Education, 21, 35–40.
Stem, P.C., Dietz, T., & Kalof, L. (1993). Value orientations, gender, and environmental concern. Environment and Behavior, 25, 322–348.
Syme, G.J., Kals, E., Nancarrow, B.E., & Montada, L. (2000). Ecological risks and community perceptions of fairness and justice: A cross-cultural model. Risk Analysis, 20, 905–916.
Tucker, L.R. (1978). The environmentally concerned citizen. Environment and Behavior, 10, 389–418.
Tyler, T.R., Orwin, R., & Schurer, L. (1982). Defensive denial and high cost prosocial behavior. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 3, 267–281.
Umweltbundesamtg (Ed.). (1997). Daten zur Umwelt. Der Zustand der Umwelt in Deutschland [Environmental data: The state of the natural environment in Germany]. Berlin: Schmidt.
Van Liere, K.D., & Dunlap, R.E. (1978). Moral norms and environmental behavior: An application of Schwartz’ norm-activation model of yard burning. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 8, 181–197.
WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development) (1990). Our Common Future. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Wentworth, W.R. (1989). Energy conservation attitudes, intentions, and behaviors of homeowners in Staten Island, New York. Dissertation Abstracts International, 49, 3505–B.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kals, E., Maes, J. (2002). Sustainable Development and Emotions. In: Schmuck, P., Schultz, W.P. (eds) Psychology of Sustainable Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0995-0_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0995-0_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5342-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0995-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive