Differences in Environmental Orientation Among Homeowners

Used responses to a contingent valuation survey to examine how 100 homeowners (59 men and 41 women) distinguished among 5 environmental orientations (an outdoors person, a conservationist, someone concerned about water pollution, someone willing to pay the cost of pollution control, and an environmentalist). The relationship between demographic characteristics, political outlook, and perception of environmental quality and particular orientations was also examined. High percentages of homeowners identified at least somewhat with all environmental orientations, but to a lesser degree with those that implied active use of the environment, strong ideological commitment, or willingness to sacrifice or make tradeoffs for environmental quality. Environmental orientations related to demographic characteristics, political outlook, and perception were determined. Results suggest that environmental orientations can be conceptualized on a continuum ranging from egoistic to biospheric.