Stepping Outside the Self Promotes Pro-Environmental Behaviors

Abstract

Although different self-perspectives can prompt different mindsets, leading to different responses, little is known about how self-perspective impacts pro-environmental behaviors. This study explores the effect of self-perspective, i.e., either self-immersed or self-distanced perspective, on environmental attitudes and behavior. Based on an online survey of 409 respondents in the United States, we find that pro-environmental behaviors are perceived as more important and less costly from a self-distanced perspective, compared to a self-immersed one, which in turn facilitates more engagement in pro-environmental behaviors. Furthermore, a self-distanced perspective is more prevalent than a self-immersed perspective when individuals are less satisfied with and perceive less control over their pro-environmental behaviors. This study extends the self-perspective theory to research on pro-environmental behaviors, and offers useful implications for individuals to address conflicts between environmental and self-interested considerations, as well as for public policy makers and practitioners to promote more engagement in pro-environmental behaviors.

Underpinning Chinese international students’ stress and anxiety during the first wave of COVID-19 outbreak: The moderating role of wisdom

“…One of the primary techniques that researchers rely on to foster wise-reasoning is ego-decentering (i.e., self-distancing), which includes considering an issue or situation from the standpoint of a detached observer rather than one’s own perspective ( Kross and Ayduk, 2011 ; Kross and Grossmann, 2012 ; Grossmann and Dorfman, 2019 ). Some evidence suggests that ego-decentering strategies that promote wise reasoning can enhance various behaviors, such as long-term environmental protection, healthy eating behaviors, and interpersonal perceptions ( Leitner et al, 2017 ; Hou et al, 2018 ; Hussain et al, 2021 ). However, research on improving wise reasoning through self-decentralization strategies to protect individuals, especially international students, from the pressure of COVID-19 is scarce.…”