The Influence of Social Class and Cultural Variables on Environmental Behaviors

Abstract

Previous scholarship pertaining to the social bases of proenvironmental behavior presents an equivocal picture of the influence of social class indicators. In further investigation of this possible association, the author examined municipal-level data in Massachusetts, compiled by various state agencies, exploring whether sociodemographics are associated with recycling rates, hybrid car ownership, and the presence of sustainability advocacy groups. Results indicate that the proportion of college-educated population was significantly associated with recycling and hybrid auto ownership, whereas results for the civic action group presence show population density and political voting were significant but not sociodemographics. The insignificance of economic metrics implies that policy makers and social scientists in this specific case should focus more on cultural factors than financial barriers in encouraging certain behaviors.

Factors Influencing the Behavioural Intention towards Full Electric Vehicles: An Empirical Study in Macau

“…In addition to the actual situational factors, psychological factors, such as personal attitudes, are equally important [9,10]. Although some empirical studies of the consumer acceptance of hybrid vehicles have been conducted (e.g., [11,12]), there is little research that considers the perception of an expected situation; in particular, there has been little focus on the perception of full electric vehicles.…”

Environmental Concern Over Time: Evidence from the Longitudinal Analysis of a British Cohort Study from 1991 to 2008*

“…This might be in line with the theory of the hierarchy of needs (Maslow, ), following which the upper and middle classes, after easily satisfying their basic material needs, focus on satisfying other “higher” needs (Fransson and Garling, ). However, it was found that, between the two factors that constitute social class in the sociological literature, education has constantly shown a stronger association with environmental attitudes than income (Laidley, ). Preston and Feinstein () found that “there is a large and significant effect of taking a vocational course and increased environmental concern ….…”

Culture, Carbon, and Climate Change: A Class Analysis of Climate Change Belief, Lifestyle Lock-in, and Personal Carbon Footprint

“…Postmaterialist / prosperity arguments posit that there exists a well-educated, left-leaning middle-class with the time and ability to be concerned about ecological issues (Franzen and Meyer, 2010;Inglehart, 1990). 17 Th ere are mixed fi ndings on such a thesis, with some scholars fi nding evidence of a somewhat stable cultural fi eld of ecological views and practices expanding across class boundaries (Carfagna et al, 2014;Laidley, 2013) -what Carfagna et al (2014 call an eco-habitus -while other scholars fi nd little or no "prosperity" tendencies:…”