An Investigation on Cynicism and Environmental Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Pro-Environmental Behavior

Abstract

Environmental problem is one of the biggest problems that threatens human life. Human behavior has long been known to play an important role in maintaining and improving environmental sustainability. Psychological studies investigating predictors of pro-environmental behavior have been carried out, but no studies link it with cynicism and self-efficacy simultaneously. This study design was predictive correlational and data analysis technique employed was multiple linear regression analysis. Participants of this study were 205 undergraduate students in Jakarta (132 males, 73 females; Mage = 19.68 years old; SDage = 0.849 years) taken using convenience sampling technique. This study found that cynicism and environmental self-efficacy are able to predict proenvironmental behavior in positive directions. This study suggests revising the measurement instrument of cynicism.

An Investigation of Pro-Environmental Behaviour and Sustainable Development in Malaysia

“…For example, students knew where to dispose of recyclable materials (e.g., bottles, plastics, and papers), ensured that electricity was turned off after class, or saved paper even though they were not told to do so. Further, the results of the present study supported the argument by Abraham et al [65] and Kim et al [14], which stated that a high level of self-efficacy impelled individuals to become more consistent in countering environmental issues, thereby increasing their pro-environmental behaviour.…”

“…According to Chen [57], undergraduates in Taiwan who were grouped under high-fear appeal condition had higher moral obligation to alleviate environmental degradation, thereby increasing their intention to engage in pro-environmental behaviour. As argued by Abraham et al [65], self-efficacy can be a reliable predictor of pro-environmental behaviour. They found that the greater the level of undergraduates' self-efficacy, the more persistent and determined they were to counter the environmental problems, which enhanced their intention to engage in pro-environmental behaviour.…”

Relationships Among Environmental Attitudes, Environmental Efficacy, and Pro-Environmental Behaviors Across and Within 11 Countries

“…Thus some ambiguity exists about whether to examine environmental behaviors at an individual and/or societal level. Many studies use measures that combine different aspects of PEBs (e.g., Abraham et al, 2015; Axelrod & Lehmen, 1993; Berger & Corbin, 1992; Chen, 2015; Heeren et al, 2016; Homburg & Stolberg, 2006; Huang, 2016; Lee & Holden, 1999; Lee et al, 2014; Oh et al, 2020; Oreg & Katz-Gerro, 2006; Rice et al, 1996; Wu & Mweemba, 2010). For example, some distinguish between activist and non-activist behaviors (Chen, 2015; Homburg & Stolberg, 2006; Piyapong, 2020) as PEBs.…”

How 360-Degree Video Influences Content Perceptions and Environmental Behavior: The Moderating Effect of Environmental Self-Efficacy

“…Proenvironmental behaviors can be seen as intrinsically motivated by environmental self-efficacy because such behaviors are rarely considered enjoyable (Venhoeven et al, 2013), requiring greater mental and physical efforts on the part of individuals to bring desired changes. Overcoming this barrier, environmental self-efficacy in sustainability and climate-change studies has shown to lead to desired outcomes of behavioral intention and active solution seeking, such as higher proclivity for recycling (Tabernero & Hernández, 2011), increased intention to save water (Lam, 2006), and greater proenvironmental behaviors in general (Abraham et al, 2015). Especially, Huang (2016) has demonstrated that self-efficacy has a significant impact on three critical types of proenvironmental behavior.…”