Human-Nature Relationships and Linkages to Environmental Behaviour. (1st June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Braito, Michael Thomas; Böck, Kerstin; Flint, Courtney; Muhar, Andreas; Muhar, Susanne; Penker, Marianne
• Is Part Of: Environmental values. Volume 26:Number 3(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: 365
• Page End: 389
• Publication Date: 2017-06-01
• Subjects: Human-nature relationship scale -- Schwartz Value Scale -- student survey -- Austria -- Utah; Environmental ethics -- Periodicals; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; 179.105
• DOI: 10.3197/096327117X14913285800706
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-2719

Abstract

Abstract : While many theories exist to explain the complexity of environmental behaviour, the role of individuals' relationship with nature has not yet been fully clarified. This paper attempts to operationalise human-nature relationships. It expands upon a scale assessed by an iterative process of mixed methods in the US and Europe. This scale is then used to assess individuals' relationship with nature, and whether such relationships correlate with environmental behaviour. The value scale of Schwartz's Theory of Basic Values is used to validate the results. The results verify that people hold multiple human-nature relationships, confirm strong correlations between human-nature relationships and values, and reveal that individuals' behaviour is connected to the relationship they have with nature.