Values, Environmental Beliefs, and Connection With Nature as Predictive Factors of the Pro-environmental Vote in Spain

Abstract

This research analyzes the predictive capacity of psychosocial variables that can influence the decision to vote for political parties that include pro-environmental measures in their program. To this end, a study was carried out with a sample of 414 people of legal age who could exercise their right to vote (mean age = 26.92, SD = 10.53). The participants were divided into two groups: (1) Pro-environmental voters, those who during the last elections in Spain based their voting decision on whether the political party included pro-environment measures in its electoral program (n = 190), and (2) Non-pro-environmental voters, those other people who voted for a political party without considering whether pro-environment measures were included in its electoral program (even if such environmental protection measures had been included) (n = 224). The results indicate that, in comparison with their counterparts who do not vote for pro-environmental parties, those who voted for political parties during the last elections by considering the inclusion of pro-environment measures in their electoral program showed the highest scores on the biospheric and socio-altruistic values of ecocentrism, anthropocentrism, connectivity with nature and environmental concern, and scored lower on self-centered values. With the exception of connectivity with nature, biospheric values and beliefs were good predictors of pro-environmental voting behavior.

The effects of induced emotions on environmental preferences and behavior: An experimental study

“…Second, we suppose that individuals with a high degree of environmental awareness will behave in a more environmentally friendly way than individuals with a low degree of environmental awareness. Indeed, following Aguilar-Luzón et al’s [ 44 ] literature review, empirical evidence shows that people who adhere more strongly to ecocentric beliefs are prone to act in favor of the environment. Consequently, investigating the interplay between emotional states and environmental preferences, we suppose that emotions may impact PEB (if any) according to the level of an individual’s environmental awareness.…”

On the predictors of pro-environmental behaviors: integrating personal values and the 2-MEV among secondary school students in Tanzania

“…Therefore, we use personal value as an evaluative model to indicate how it explains one's behavior when subjected to environmental parameters (de Groot and Thøgersen, 2019). Although in a psychological context, values have been described as beliefs about the desire of an individual towards preferential choices (de Groot and Thøgersen, 2019;Schwartz, 1992), some other researchers have examined personal values and beliefs as separate factors where the former is a potential determinant of the latter and both of them may pose different influences on environmental behaviors (e.g., Aguilar-Luz on et al, 2020;De Groot and Steg, 2007;Stern et al, 1999). Although, personal values and beliefs are potential determinants of environmental behaviors (Aguilar-Luz on et al, 2020), the discussion of personal beliefs is beyond the scope of this article.…”

The impact of nature video exposure on pro-environmental behavior: An experimental investigation

“…This allows us to explore observed behaviors and to analyze whether virtual exposure to nature affects PEB in two ways: whether exposure to a virtual natural environment affects these two distinct types of PEBs and whether spillover effects appear (more specifically, whether a monetary decision reinforces (or not) a non-monetary decision). We also elicit ecological awareness of participants via the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale [ 39 , 40 ] in order to link subjects’ stated environmental values [ 41 ] to their real PEB; note that we indifferently use the terms environmental values and beliefs in the remainder of the paper following Aguilar-Luzón et al [ 41 ].…”

“…Linked to these both motivations, our purpose is to test the existence of spillover effects on subsequent PEB [ 35 ] and to assess consistency or inconsistency between direct and indirect PEB [ 37 , 42 ]. Third, with regards to ecological awareness, our aim is to relate the potential impact on PEB to individuals’ environmental beliefs [ 41 ].…”

“…We suppose that individuals with a high degree of environmental beliefs behave in a more environmentally friendly way than individuals with a low degree of environmental beliefs. Indeed, Aguilar-Luzón et al’s [ 41 ] literature review shows empirical evidence that people who adhere more strongly to ecocentric beliefs act in favor of the environment. Consequently, investigating the impact of environmental preferences, we suppose that exposure to nature impacts PEB according to the individual’s degree of environmental beliefs.…”