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Understanding Pro-Environmental Behavior in the US: Insights from Grid-Group Cultural Theory and Cognitive Sociology

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  • Gail Markle

    (Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30067, USA)

Abstract

For almost fifty years researchers have endeavored to identify the factors that influence individuals’ performance of environmentally significant behavior, with inconsistent results. This quest has become even more urgent as newly released scientific reports provide mounting evidence of global climate change and other types of anthropogenic environmental degradation. In order to change individuals’ behavior on a large scale, it is necessary to change their habits of thinking. Using insights from Grid-group cultural theory and cognitive sociology, this mixed-methods study examined the factors that influence pro-environmental behavior among a nationally representative US sample ( n = 395). Qualitative results indicate that individuals develop culturally-specific environmental socio-cognitive schemas which they use to assign meaning to the environment and guide their environmentally significant behavior. Quantitative results indicate cultural orientation, pro-environmental orientation, environment identity, and environmental influence predict pro-environmental behavior. Applying these combined theoretical perspectives to the social problem of environmental degradation could facilitate the development of targeted strategies for bringing about impactful behavioral change.

Suggested Citation

  • Gail Markle, 2019. "Understanding Pro-Environmental Behavior in the US: Insights from Grid-Group Cultural Theory and Cognitive Sociology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:2:p:532-:d:199296
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Abida Begum & Liu Jingwei & Imran Ullah Khan Marwat & Salim Khan & Heesup Han & Antonio Ariza-Montes, 2021. "Evaluating the Impact of Environmental Education on Ecologically Friendly Behavior of University Students in Pakistan: The Roles of Environmental Responsibility and Islamic Values," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Branden B. Johnson & Brendon Swedlow, 2024. "Scale reliability of alternative cultural theory survey measures," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 527-557, February.
    4. Diriye, Abdishakur W. & Jama, Osman M. & Diriye, Jama Warsame & Abdi, Abdulhakim M., 2022. "Public preference for sustainable land use policies – Empirical results from multinomial logit model analysis," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    5. Diriye, Abdishakur W. & Jama, Osman M. & Chong, Ren & Abdi, Abdulhakim M, 2021. "Value of cultural worldviews and message framing for the acceptability of sustainable land use zoning policies in post-conflict Somalia," SocArXiv mnsw6, Center for Open Science.

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