IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i7p4202-d785181.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Prosocial Driver of Ecological Behavior: The Need for an Integrated Approach to Prosocial and Environmental Education

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Neaman

    (Laboratory of Bioresource Potential of Coastal Area, Institute for Advanced Studies, Sevastopol State University, 299053 Sevastopol, Russia
    Centro Transdisciplinario de Estudios Ambientales y Desarrollo Humano Sostenible (CEAM), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile)

  • Pamela Pensini

    (School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia)

  • Sarah Zabel

    (Institute of Education, Work and Society, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
    Institute of Psychology, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Siegmar Otto

    (Institute of Education, Work and Society, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
    Institute of Psychology, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Dmitry S. Ermakov

    (Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St., 117198 Moscow, Russia)

  • Elvira A. Dovletyarova

    (Department of Landscape Design and Sustainable Ecosystems, Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St., 117198 Moscow, Russia)

  • Elliot Burnham

    (Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota 2260000, Chile)

  • Mónica Castro

    (Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota 2260000, Chile)

  • Claudia Navarro-Villarroel

    (Área de Educación, Instituto de Estadística, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile)

Abstract

Although both altruistic and ecological behaviors can be considered prosocially driven behaviors, our psychological understanding of what motivates action in either the human or ecological domains is still in its infancy. We aimed to assess connection to nature and connection to humans as mediators of the relationship between prosocial propensity and prosocial behaviors in both the ecological and human domains. This study used empathy as an indicator of an individual’s prosocial propensity. The data for the study was collected through surveys in Russian (841 participants) and Spanish (418 participants). The study demonstrated that an individual’s prosocial propensity can be actioned into ecological (nature-related) behavior through connection to nature. Similarly, an individual’s prosocial propensity can be actioned into altruistic (human-related) behavior through connection to humans. However, the present study also demonstrates that an individual’s prosocial propensity can be directed to humans through a connection to nature. Thus, altruistic and ecological behaviors are two related classes of behavior, driven by the same prosocial propensity of the individual. This study is an important step towards generating scientific support for the claim that traditionally separate teaching of prosocial and environmental subjects should be combined into a single educational approach. An integrated approach will contribute to a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary effort to create a society that is both ecologically and socially sustainable.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Neaman & Pamela Pensini & Sarah Zabel & Siegmar Otto & Dmitry S. Ermakov & Elvira A. Dovletyarova & Elliot Burnham & Mónica Castro & Claudia Navarro-Villarroel, 2022. "The Prosocial Driver of Ecological Behavior: The Need for an Integrated Approach to Prosocial and Environmental Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:7:p:4202-:d:785181
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/7/4202/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/7/4202/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Otto, Siegmar & Kröhne, Ulf & Richter, David, 2018. "The dominance of introspective measures and what this implies: The example of environmental attitude," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 13(2), pages 1-13.
    2. César Tapia-Fonllem & Victor Corral-Verdugo & Blanca Fraijo-Sing & Maria Fernanda Durón-Ramos, 2013. "Assessing Sustainable Behavior and its Correlates: A Measure of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Altruistic and Equitable Actions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Susan M. Koger, 2013. "Psychological and Behavioral Aspects of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(7), pages 1-3, July.
    4. Alexander Neaman & Siegmar Otto & Eli Vinokur, 2018. "Toward an Integrated Approach to Environmental and Prosocial Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-11, February.
    5. Pablo Díaz-Siefer & Alexander Neaman & Eduardo Salgado & Juan L. Celis-Diez & Siegmar Otto, 2015. "Human-Environment System Knowledge: A Correlate of Pro-Environmental Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-17, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Giansanto Mosconi & Serena Barello & Paola Bertuccio & Marcello Fiorentino & Tomaso Vecchi & Anna Odone, 2025. "Individual voices, collective health: a person-centered cross-sectional study to identify psychological drivers of vaccination attitudes," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Guilherme Pessoa Nogueira & Gabriel Palma Petrielli & Mateus Ferreira Chagas & Isabelle Lobo de Mesquita Sampaio & Liliana Zanelli de Oliveira Martins & Tassia Lopes Junqueira & Edvaldo Rodrigo Morais, 2024. "Sustainability synergies and trade-offs considering circularity and land availability for bioplastics production in Brazil," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Alexander Neaman & Eiliana Montero & Pamela Pensini & Elliot Burnham & Mónica Castro & Dmitry S. Ermakov & Claudia Navarro-Villarroel, 2023. "Unleashing the Power of Connection: How Adolescents’ Prosocial Propensity Drives Ecological and Altruistic Behaviours," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Stefanos Balaskas & Aliki Panagiotarou & Maria Rigou, 2023. "Impact of Environmental Concern, Emotional Appeals, and Attitude toward the Advertisement on the Intention to Buy Green Products: The Case of Younger Consumer Audiences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-19, September.
    5. Colette Konietzny & Jirka Konietzny & Albert Caruana, 2024. "Drivers of Pro-Ecological Behaviour Norms among Environmentalists, Hunters and the General Public," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-14, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alexander Neaman & Siegmar Otto & Eli Vinokur, 2018. "Toward an Integrated Approach to Environmental and Prosocial Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-11, February.
    2. Daniel Musitu-Ferrer & Celeste León-Moreno & Juan Evaristo Callejas-Jerónimo & Macarena Esteban-Ibáñez & Gonzalo Musitu-Ochoa, 2019. "Relationships between Parental Socialization Styles, Empathy and Connectedness with Nature: Their Implications in Environmentalism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-20, July.
    3. Aneta Mikuła & Małgorzata Raczkowska & Monika Utzig, 2021. "Pro-Environmental Behaviour in the European Union Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.
    4. Víctor Corral-Verdugo & Claudia Pato & Nissa Torres-Soto, 2021. "Testing a tridimensional model of sustainable behavior: self-care, caring for others, and caring for the planet," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 12867-12882, September.
    5. Alexander Neaman & Eiliana Montero & Pamela Pensini & Elliot Burnham & Mónica Castro & Dmitry S. Ermakov & Claudia Navarro-Villarroel, 2023. "Unleashing the Power of Connection: How Adolescents’ Prosocial Propensity Drives Ecological and Altruistic Behaviours," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, May.
    6. Pablo Díaz-Siefer & Alexander Neaman & Eduardo Salgado & Juan L. Celis-Diez & Siegmar Otto, 2015. "Human-Environment System Knowledge: A Correlate of Pro-Environmental Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-17, November.
    7. Zhihui Wang & Liangzhen Nie & Eila Jeronen & Lihua Xu & Meiai Chen, 2023. "Understanding the Environmentally Sustainable Behavior of Chinese University Students as Tourists: An Integrative Framework," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-17, February.
    8. Jacek Wysocki, 2021. "Innovative Green Initiatives in the Manufacturing SME Sector in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    9. Jarkko Levänen & Mokter Hossain & Tatu Lyytinen & Anne Hyvärinen & Sini Numminen & Minna Halme, 2015. "Implications of Frugal Innovations on Sustainable Development: Evaluating Water and Energy Innovations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-17, December.
    10. Farzana Sharmin & Mohammad Tipu Sultan & Alina Badulescu & Dorin Paul Bac & Benqian Li, 2020. "Millennial Tourists’ Environmentally Sustainable Behavior Towards a Natural Protected Area: An Integrative Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-24, October.
    11. Pinky Kumawat & Cristina Pronello, 2021. "Validating Italian General Ecological Behaviour Questionnaire of Travellers Using Dichotomous Rasch Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-25, October.
    12. R. C. Tripathi & Sunit Singh, 2017. "Psychosocial Pathways Towards a Sustainable Society," Psychology and Developing Societies, , vol. 29(2), pages 200-220, September.
    13. Salman, M.M. & Kharroubi, S. & Itani, M. & Talhouk, S.N., 2020. "Using IUCN protected areas management categories as a tool to assess youth preferences for local management of an Important Plant Area (IPA) in Lebanon," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    14. Agata Balinska & Ewa Jaska & Agnieszka Werenowska, 2023. "Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Behavior of Generation Z in the Context of Tourist Trips," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 945-959.
    15. Salvador del Saz Salazar & Luis Pérez y Pérez, 2021. "Exploring the Differential Effect of Life Satisfaction on Low and High-Cost Pro-Environmental Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-17, December.
    16. Pedro Vazquez-Marin & Francisco Cuadrado & Isabel Lopez-Cobo, 2023. "Connecting Sustainable Human Development and Positive Psychology through the Arts in Education: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-23, January.
    17. Tammie Ronen & Dorit Kerret, 2020. "Promoting Sustainable Wellbeing: Integrating Positive Psychology and Environmental Sustainability in Education," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-19, September.
    18. Berre Deltomme & Karen Gorissen & Bert Weijters, 2023. "Measuring Pro-Environmental Behavior: Convergent Validity, Internal Consistency, and Respondent Experience of Existing Instruments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-26, October.
    19. Ying Li & Xuan Wu & Yu-Jie Chu & Ya-Jun Guo, 2022. "The Impact of Transformative Tourism Experiences on Prosocial Behaviors of College Students: Multiple Chain Mediating Effects of Dispositional Awe and Social Connectedness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    20. Alondra María Díaz-Rodríguez & Claire Kelly & Alfredo del Valle & Claudio Bravo-Linares & William Blake & Hugo Velasco & Roberto Meigikos dos Anjos & Laura Fernanda Barrera-Hernández & Sergio de los S, 2021. "Exploring Relationship between Perception Indicators and Mitigation Behaviors of Soil Erosion in Undergraduate Students in Sonora, Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-17, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:7:p:4202-:d:785181. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.