Engaging with the natural environment: The role of affective connection and identity

Hinds, Joe; Sparks, Paul

doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2007.11.001

Cited by 475 publications

(341 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Negative attitudes towards carnivores in rural areas may be associated with the expectation that encounters with carnivores put themselves or their families in danger, and may result in financial loss, while positive may be associated to the expectations and with the excitement of seeing animals in the wild (Roskaft, Handel, Bjerke & Kaltenborn 2007;Consorte-McCrea 2013). As well as facilitating connections, emotions also seem to reinforce intentions to engage with the natural environment (Hinds & Sparks 2008). A sense of connection with animal species may be a precursor to empathy, especially for species that are perceived as similar to us, and to an interest in taking action to protect them (Clayton, Fraser, and Burgess 2011;Clayton, Luebke, Saunders et al 2014).…”

Section: "Biodiversity I Think That Most Of the Time It Would Just Gomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While direct experience may promote a more affective evaluation of an object, repeated exposure to that object may strengthen the affective connections with it (Hinds & Sparks 2008). A sense of connection to animals and nature; an understanding of the ecological role of the reintroduction of carnivores; and support towards it, seems to increase with frequency of visits and membership to a zoo, suggesting a cumulative effect that builds on visitors' capacity for future learning and for action (Rounds 2004;Falk et al 2007;Packer & Ballantyne 2010;Reading & Miller 2008, Clayton et al 2014.…”

Section: (Charlotte) "Being Able To See Something and Know What You'rmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding Attitudes Towards Native Wildlife and Biodiversity in the UK: The Role of Zoos

Consorte-McCrea¹,

Bainbridge²,

Fernández³

et al. 2016

Sustainable Development Research at Universities in the United Kingdom

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The present paper draws from a study of the role of zoos in forming attitudes towards biodiversity and native wild carnivores that are considered for reintroduction. The project is being developed by an interdisciplinary team (wildlife conservation, psychology, education) working towards the development of a questionnaire to investigate this topic in the UK.Research suggests that experiences with live animals in zoos may encourage empathy, through personal connection, which in turn facilitates greater concern towards biodiversity. Concomitantly, the reintroduction of wild carnivores to their native habitats may contribute to biodiversity by helping regulate ecosystem dynamics. Carnivores also carry a rich cultural and historical heritage. IUCN guidelines state the need for public support to establish a reintroduced population in the wild, therefore, carnivore restoration efforts benefit from the understanding of the human dimensions.A pilot study was carried out in Kent (spring 2015) using focus groups and interviews to investigate attitudes towards biodiversity, with particular focus on two species of carnivores native to the British Isles and currently considered for reintroduction (the European lynx Lynx lynx and the pine marten Martes martes) and the role of zoos in promoting support towards biodiversity conservation. Results suggest an association between seeing native wild carnivore species in the zoo and emotional responses such as 'breaking down fears', but also concerns about a disconnect between people and nature, and misunderstanding about the role of zoos in 'protecting' species. Below we offer a discussion of the themes that emerged from the analysis of focus groups and interviews in relation to biodiversity.

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Section: "Biodiversity I Think That Most Of the Time It Would Just Gomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: (Charlotte) "Being Able To See Something and Know What You'rmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Attitudes Towards Native Wildlife and Biodiversity in the UK: The Role of Zoos

Consorte-McCrea¹,

Bainbridge²,

Fernández³

et al. 2016

Sustainable Development Research at Universities in the United Kingdom

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“…This statistical technique continues to be widely applied in place attachment, tourism and environmental studies (e.g., Hinds & Sparks, 2008;Raymond et al, 2011;Rioux & Werner, 2011;Rosentraub & Joo, 2009). Results of the multiple regression analyses are shown in Table 1 …”

Section: Multiple Regression Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Place attachment, place satisfaction and pro-environmental behaviour: a comparative assessment of multiple regression and structural equation modelling

Ramkissoon

Weiler

Smith

2013

Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events

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Using data collected from 452 visitors at the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Australia, this paper applies multiple regression and structural equation modelling (SEM) approaches to test the relationships between the respective sub-constructs of place attachment (place dependence, place identity, place affect, place social bonding), place satisfaction, and visitors' pro-environmental behavioural intentions. Findings revealed differences in strength and magnitude of the regression paths. The SEM analysis further reveals insignificant regression paths between place identity and place satisfaction, and place social bonding and low effort pro-environmental behavioural intentions in contrast to the multiple regression results. An empirical comparison of the MR and SEM results is expected to shed light on the application of these two powerful techniques in tourism research.

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“…how closely one affiliates their personal identity with the environment) can increase explained variance in behaviour using the TPB (Hinds and Sparks 2008). Other variables that have been added to the TPB for sustainable choice include moral norms (Cheng and Tung 2010), environmental concern (Fransson, Davidsson, Marell and Garling 1994), environmental self-identity (Hinds and Sparks 2008) and descriptive norms with regards to others' behaviour (Donald et al 2014). The decision to adopt PE behaviour is clearly a complex choice with many interacting variables, which are often difficult to model in a laboratory setting.…”

Section: The Theory Of Planned Behaviour (Tpb)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alternatively, one's 'emotional affinity' to nature, an affective state, is more stable over time. Indeed, one's affective connectedness to nature is associated with childhood upbringing whereby rural dwellers have been found to feel more connected to nature and so have greater PE intentions and behaviours (Hinds and Sparks 2008). This is an important distinction in the literature whereby affect is a broad-based state linked to individual differences whereas emotion is more variable and context-dependent.…”

Section: Extending the Tpb: The Model Of Goal-directed Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping our underlying cognitions and emotions about good environmental behavior: Why we fail to act despite the best of intentions

2017

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Despite the widespread recognition of climate change as the single biggest global threat, the willingness of people to change their behaviour to mitigate its effects is limited. Past research, often focussing on specific categories of behaviour, has highlighted a very significant gap between people's intentions to behave more sustainably and their actual behaviour. This paper presents a new approach to this issue, by using more open-ended questions to map a much broader range of cognitions and emotions about good environmental behaviour. Two key findings emerged. Firstly, participants were aware of the contradiction between their level of concern about the environment and their willingness to act in more sustainable ways. The qualitative analysis further revealed that this discrepancy often hinged on a lack of knowledge about how to act more sustainably; the analysis also revealed a desire for more information about genuinely green behaviour. Secondly, pro-environmental behaviour was often conceptualised by participants in essentially 'social' terms; anticipated emotions relating to sustainable/non-sustainable behaviour were as closely tied to the behaviour of one's peers as to one's own behaviour. This finding suggests that we must highlight the social dimension in any interventions to increase sustainable behaviours amongst the public.

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Engaging with the natural environment: The role of affective connection and identity

Cited by 475 publications

References 55 publications

Understanding Attitudes Towards Native Wildlife and Biodiversity in the UK: The Role of Zoos

Understanding Attitudes Towards Native Wildlife and Biodiversity in the UK: The Role of Zoos

Place attachment, place satisfaction and pro-environmental behaviour: a comparative assessment of multiple regression and structural equation modelling

Mapping our underlying cognitions and emotions about good environmental behavior: Why we fail to act despite the best of intentions

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