"Nature is mine/ours": Measuring individual and collective psychological ownership of nature. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Xiongzhi; Fielding, Kelly S.; Dean, Angela J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental psychology. Volume 85(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Psychological ownership of nature -- Connection to nature -- Place attachment -- Pro-environmental behaviors -- Scale development and validation; Environmental psychology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; 155.905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101919
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-4944

Abstract

Abstract: Psychological ownership of nature (i.e., the feeling that nature is "mine" or "ours") has been examined to encourage pro-environmental behaviors. However, a psychometrically validated measure that assesses the core of the construct is currently lacking, which undercuts its value and growing research efforts. Following recommended procedures, this paper developed and validated 6-item scales of individual and collective psychological ownership of nature, using a representative sample of Australian adults (total N = 836). The two scales exhibited high reliability and evidence of convergent, discriminant, predictive, and incremental validity, with measurement invariance across gender, age, and political subgroups. The validated individual and collective psychological ownership of nature scales were statistically distinct from proximate constructs (e.g., connection to nature and place attachment). The two scales had unique power in explaining civic pro-environmental behaviors, over and above connection to nature. Collective (but not individual) psychological ownership of nature contributed additional variance over place attachment in civic pro-environmental behaviors. This paper advances research on psychological ownership of nature by offering validated scales measuring the core of this increasingly important construct. Highlights: Psychological ownership of nature (PON) refers to one's feeling that nature is "mine" or "ours". We develop and validate 6-item (or shortened 3-item) scales of individual and collective PON. The two PON scales exhibit high reliability, construct and criterion-related validity, and measurement invariance. Individual and collective PON are statistically distinct from proximate concepts (connection to nature and place attachment). Individual and collective PON are positively linked to civic pro-environmental behaviors.