Life goals predict environmental behavior: Cross-cultural and longitudinal evidence

Abstract

Prioritizing intrinsic life goals (self-development, community involvement, relationships) rather than extrinsic ones (money, fame, image) is said to foster not only personal wellbeing, but also pro-social behavior such as protecting the environment. We explored concurrent and prospective links between intrinsic (versus extrinsic) life goals and self-reported environmentally responsible behavior, using correlational and longitudinal data from adult participants in a mass consumer society (UK) and a fast developing nation (Chile). In both countries, the importance of intrinsic (versus extrinsic) life goals was associated cross-sectionally with environmentally responsible behavior, even after controlling for possible effects of environmental worldviews and environmental identification. In longitudinal analyses, life goals prospectively predicted environmentally responsible behavior over a two-year period, whereas, rather unexpectedly, environmental worldviews and environmental identification did not. We conclude that focusing on intrinsic, rather than extrinsic, life goals may be important not just for individuals' well-being, but also for the well-being of future generations.

Students' Attitudes and Behaviours in the Context of Environmental Issues

“…Additionally, this research highlights four key areas that infl uence environmentally responsible behaviour: personal perspective, social infl uences, environmental education, and the barriers that prevent environmentally responsible behaviour. Unanue et al (2016) also highlight the importance of intrinsic motivation for the development of pro-environmental behaviour. In their research, they examine the connection between the intrinsically (self-development, community involvement, developing relationships) and extrinsically motivated life goals (acquiring wealth and fame, etc.…”

“…an excessive consumption of goods and services which can lead to greater negative environmental consequences. After the analysis of correlational and longitudinal data, it was determined that the type of life goals (intrinsic and extrinsic) has a greater infl uence on environmental action than on pro-environmental attitudes and environmental identifi cation (Unanue et al, 2016).…”

El rol del bienestar subjetivo para medir el progreso de las naciones y orientar las políticas públicas

“…Cuarto, colocar el énfasis del desarrollo en lo material ha traído serias consecuencias para los seres humanos. De hecho, nuestros altos niveles de materialismo y consumo estarían afectando no solo la salud mental y psicoló-gica de la población, sino que también estarían poniendo en jaque el futuro del planeta (Dittmar, Bond, Kasser, y Hurst, 2014;Unanue, Vignoles, Dittmar, y Vansteenkiste, 2016). Por lo tanto, nuestro actual modelo de desarrollo no solo sería sinónimo de progreso económico, sino que también causante de diversas aflicciones de la humanidad (Sachs, 2012).…”

“…Cuarto, el cambio climático y el calentamiento global se han convertido en el desafío más grande de nuestro presente siglo (World Bank, 2013). El sobre consumo y la sobre producción han jugado un rol clave en este proceso, causando un masivo daño medioambiental que ha reducido la potencialidad de bienestar para las futuras generaciones (Sachs, 2012;Unanue et al, 2016). Estos 4 dilemas (entre otros) han llevado a requerir con urgencia no solo un nuevo modelo de progreso, sino que también nuevos indicadores de desarrollo que midan el verdadero bienestar de las naciones.…”

Family Coping Affects The Quality of Life Patients with Tuberculosis

“…Quality of life is an individual perception of one's position in life in the context of cultural and values where they live and its relation to goals, hopes, and the self-determined standard [13]. In WHOQOL-BREF, quality of life was divided into four key domains; physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, social relationships, and environmental aspect.…”