Apples and Oranges: Probing the Attitude-Behavior Relationship for the Environment

Contends that the environment is a domain in which attitudes do not predict behaviors very well. After reviewing evidence of low association, the author argues that the findings are not a result of poor methodology. Rather, the environment is a synthetic macrocategory that does not fulfil any of the 3 criteria that are necessary for strong associations between attitudes and behavior. The attitude-behavior model misconceives the social structural basis of most environmental impacts and should be replaced with a more macro approach that focuses on collective actions. To this end, the author reconceptualizes environmental public opinion so that its potential impact on political debates can be addressed. (French abstract)