Learned helplessness moderates the relationship between environmental concern and behavior. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Landry, Nicholas; Gifford, Robert; Milfont, Taciano L.; Weeks, Andrew; Arnocky, Steven
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental psychology. Volume 55(2018)
• Page Start: 18
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Learned helplessness -- Environmental concern -- Pro-environmental behavior; Environmental psychology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; 155.905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.12.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-4944

Abstract

Abstract: Many concerned individuals refrain from meaningful pro-environmental actions. We examined whether self-reported levels of trait learned helplessness moderates this concern–behavior relation. Results confirmed that learned helplessness moderated links between environmental concern and both self-reported and in-vivo measures of pro-environmental behavior, such that concern most strongly predicted behavior when learned helplessness scores were low. Results are reliable after controlling for gender as well as depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. These findings suggest that learned helplessness acts as a barrier to pro-environmental behavior in the face of environmental concern. Highlights: Learned helplessness moderated links between environmental concern and behavior. Learned helplessness was irrelevant to support for geo-engineering. Controlling for depression, anxiety, and stress did not alter the findings.