How Values Shape People's Behavior in Parks

Rose Keller (right) talks with visitors at Denali National Park and Preserve.

Most environmental social science research has revolved around environmental attitudes to predict human's pro-environmental behavior. Because attitudes are built atop values, we explored the importance of value concepts in predicting behavior. We tested the effects of "long-term" predictors (cultural and individual values) in relation to "short-term" predictors (social and assigned values) in a structural model to predict the intended pro-environmental behaviors of Denali National Park visitors. We found that individuals who hold biospheric and altruistic values were more likely to engage in pro-environmental behavior. Behavior was modeled on three levels: visitors were twice as likely to lead a "conservation lifestyle" (recycling, conserve water, buy green products) rather than participate in social environmentalism, science, or policy.

Integrating multi-level values and pro-environmental behavior in a U.S. protected area

Abstract

Human behavior is influenced by an array of psychological processes such as environmental values. Despite the importance of understanding the reasons why people engage in activities that minimize environmental degradation, empirical research rarely integrates different types of values simultaneously to provide more complete and multi-faceted insights on how values contribute to environmental sustainability. Drawing from on-site survey data collected in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska (n = 641), we used two-step structural equation modeling to test how variation in behavioral patterns was explained by the cultural, individual, and social values of visitors to a national park. We fused various disciplinary perspectives on the value concept to demonstrate how individual- and group-level dynamics were integral for predicting behavior and better understanding aggregated preferences for environmental conditions in the context of a U.S. protected area.

van Riper, C., S. Winkler-Schor, L. Foelske, R. Keller, M. Braito, C. Raymond, M. Eriksson, E. Golebie, and D. Johnson. 2019. Integrating multi-level values and pro-environmental behavior in a U.S. protected area. Sustainability Science p1-14.