Abstract
The environmental connectedness perspective posits that direct encounter with generalized, or non-specific "nature," leads to environmental connectedness and subsequent pro-environmental behavior. This article examines this perspective and proposes a place-based application of the nature encounter-environmental behavior relation. An empirical study using data from a national survey on outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism is presented. Results show a minimal relationship between measures of environmental connectedness and self-reports of environmental behavior. The following examination of the environmental connectedness perspective reveals that environmental connectedness is rooted in a material/objective perspective, neglecting the human domain of perceptions, values, and representations. The environment as "nature" is portrayed as a geographically undefined agent with the inherent power to change human attitudes and behavior. Based on this, the article concludes with a proposed replacement of the elusive concept of nature for the relational concept of place.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 198-205 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Environmental Psychology |
Volume | 40 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2014 |
Keywords
- Dualism
- Environmental behavior
- Human-environment relationship
- Outdoor recreation
- Place attachment