A Structural Model of Environmental Attitudes and Behaviour. Special Issue: Green Psychology

The multivariate relationship between environmental attitudes and pro-environmental behavior was examined. In two studies a structural model linking environmental awareness, emotions, personal-philosophical values, perceived control and behavior was proposed and tested. The main questions investigated were (a) whether, to what extent, and in which constellation personal belief systems affect environmental behaviour, and (b) the generalizability of the model from two known groups. New instruments were created to measure the model's constructs. Using LISREL VII, Study I confirmed the proposed model. The strongest effect on environmental behaviour stemmed from personal-philosophical values and emotions. No effects on environmental behavior stemming from factual knowledge were found. Thirty-nine per cent of the variance in environmental behavior was explained by the attitudinal components. Study II showed the extent to which persons differ in their environmental behavior depending on their membership in a 'green drivers' association, compared with traditional drivers.