Exploring the Relationship Between Values and Pro-Environmental Behaviour: The Influence of Locus of Control. (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jonsson, Anna-Karin Engqvist; Nilsson, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Environmental values. Volume 23:Number 3(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 297
• Page End: 314
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: Environment -- locus of control -- pro-environmental behaviour -- values; Environmental ethics -- Periodicals; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; 179.105
• DOI: 10.3197/096327114X13947900181752
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-2719

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between people's values, loci of control and pro-environmental behaviours. 'Locus of control' refers to the extent to which people attribute control over events in life either to themselves or to external sources beyond their influence: in the former case, the individual is described as having an internal locus of control, and in the latter, an external one. The study hypothesised, and subsequently concluded, that self-transcendent values and internal loci of control were positively related to pro-environmental behaviours, and also that loci of control moderate the link between people's values and behaviour; people with a low degree of self-transcendence values behave pro-environmentally if they have an internal locus of control.