Guilt consistently motivates pro-environmental outcomes while pride depends on context

Hurst, Kristin; Sintov, Nicole D.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101776

Cited by 40 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 67 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The positive prediction of pro-environmental intention by guilt stands in line with existing literature (Carrus et al, 2008;Rees et al, 2014;Hurst and Sintov, 2022). However, in our study, guilt was not only a significant predictor but also a mediator.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…This is also in line with the literature on the positive effects of pride on pro-environmental behavior (Bissing-Olson et al, 2016). Notwithstanding, the effect of pride is not consistent but rather depends on the context (Hurst and Sintov, 2022), which again supports the necessity of careful use of emotions in proenvironmental behavior change.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Predicting Pro-environmental Intention and Behavior Based on Justice Sensitivity, Moral Disengagement, and Moral Emotions – Results of Two Quota-Sampling Surveys

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effects of climate change lead to increasing social injustice and hence justice is intrinsically linked to a socio-ecological transformation. In this study, we investigate whether justice sensitivity motivates pro-environmental intention (PEI) and behavior (PEB) and, if so, to what extent emotions and moral disengagement determine this process. For this purpose, we conducted two quota-sampling surveys (Study 1: N = 174, Study 2: N = 880). Multiple regression analyses in both studies suggest that a higher perception of injustice from a perpetrator’s, beneficiary’s, and observer’s perspective is associated with an increased PEI. However, moral disengagement best predicted PEB and PEI. Guilt and authentic pride were found to be emotional predictors of PEI. Additionally, mediation analyses demonstrated that guilt mediates the connection between both perpetrator and beneficiary sensitivity and PEI. These results suggest that when the predominant originators of climate change (i.e., individuals from industrialized countries) perceive global climate injustice from the perspective of a beneficiary or a perpetrator, they experience guilt and have a higher PEI. Based on this mechanism, it seems promising to render global injustice more salient to those responsible for activities that lead to climate change to motivate them to adapt their behavior. The role of moral disengagement and victim sensitivity as barriers to pro-environmental behavior is discussed in this context.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Predicting Pro-environmental Intention and Behavior Based on Justice Sensitivity, Moral Disengagement, and Moral Emotions – Results of Two Quota-Sampling Surveys

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this way, Adams et al (2020) found that guilt exerts a mediating role between the feedback provided to participants about their environmental impact and pro-environmental behavior, with no statistically significant results having been found for pride. Similarly, Hurst and Sintov (2022) found that guilt is a motivator of pro-environmental behavior, whereas pride depends on the context in which the emotion is elicited. Also considering guilt as a mediating variable, Ferguson and Branscombe (2010) noted that feelings of collective guilt about pollutant emissions mediate between beliefs about climate change and behavioral intention.…”

Section: Emotions and Pro-environmental Behaviormentioning

confidence: 94%

“…On the other hand, when it involves experienced emotions, guilt, but not pride, is related to pro-environmental behavior (they did not include correlational studies analyzing experienced emotions). In this vein, Hurst and Sintov (2022) compared anticipated and experienced pride and guilt in motivating pro-environmental behavior. However, they found no evidence that the effect of pride and guilt on pro-environmental behavior is based on whether these are anticipated or experienced.…”

Section: Emotions and Pro-environmental Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Pride and guilt as mediators in the relationship between connection to nature and pro-environmental intention

Pasca

2022

Climatic Change

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As a result of the environmental issues, different variables have been studied in relation to environmental concern and pro-environmental behavior. Among these are the connection to nature and emotions. In a first study (n = 95), pride and guilt were found to be emotions which can be explained by the perceived environmental impact of those rather than the behavior itself. In a second study, it was observed that pride and guilt play a mediating role in the relationship between connectedness to nature and pro-environmental behavioral intention (n = 244). On the other hand, in the relationship between love for nature and behavioral intention, pride, but not guilt, played a mediating role (n = 253). Thus, the importance of fostering both pride and guilt in attaining higher levels of environmentally conscious behavior, as well as of considering people’s perceptions of the impact of their behaviors on the environment, is highlighted.

show abstract

Examining a theoretical model of eco‐anxiety on consumers' intentions towards green products

Sharma,

Paço,

Rocha

et al. 2023

Corp Soc Responsibility Env

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Given the current levels of pollution and global warming concerns, consumers started to be more and more involved with environmental issues, becoming more anxious regarding the state of natural resource depletion. Thus, this research aims to examine the concept of eco‐anxiety among consumers who are aware of the repercussions of the current environmental complexities, analysing how or to what extent it affects them, bearing in mind that individuals may tend to escape from stressful environmental issues. A conceptual model will be tested using data from consumers of two countries representing very different regions and socioeconomic contexts: India and Italy. An online self‐administered questionnaire was distributed in India and Italy between February and March 2022. Employing partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS‐SEM), a sample of 557 individuals was collected (316 from India; 241 from Italy). The study examined the measurement model to assess validity and reliability, as well as the structural model to test the hypotheses. The results indicate that consumers of India and Italy tend to avoid thinking about environmental crises trying to normalise their plight. As observed, eco‐anxiety positively influences emotional dissonance, and escapism is positively related to this construct, but intentions to buy green products are found to be insignificant. Practical implications were drawn for policymakers and practitioners, indicating different orientations according to the region.

show abstract

Guilt consistently motivates pro-environmental outcomes while pride depends on context

Cited by 40 publications

References 67 publications

Predicting Pro-environmental Intention and Behavior Based on Justice Sensitivity, Moral Disengagement, and Moral Emotions – Results of Two Quota-Sampling Surveys

Predicting Pro-environmental Intention and Behavior Based on Justice Sensitivity, Moral Disengagement, and Moral Emotions – Results of Two Quota-Sampling Surveys

Pride and guilt as mediators in the relationship between connection to nature and pro-environmental intention

Examining a theoretical model of eco‐anxiety on consumers' intentions towards green products

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About