New Environmental Theories: Toward a Coherent Theory of Environmentally Significant Behavior
2000/01/01 by Paul C. Stern · 8,420 citations
Business, Management and Accounting · Engineering · Environmental Science · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Climate Change Communication and Perception #Computer science #Conceptual framework #Engineering #Environmental Education and Sustainability #Environmental Sustainability in Business #Environmentalism #Law #Management science #Norm (philosophy) #Political science #Politics #Psychology #Social psychology #Social science #Sociology #Value (mathematics)
paper · doi:10.1111/0022-4537.00175
published in Journal of Social Issues 56(3), 407-424 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 2000/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Abstract
This article develops a conceptual framework for advancing theories of environmentally significant individual behavior and reports on the attempts of the author's research group and others to develop such a theory. It discusses definitions of environmentally significant behavior; classifies the behaviors and their causes; assesses theories of environmentalism, focusingespecially on value‐belief‐norm theory; evaluates the relationship between environmental concern and behavior; and summarizes evidence on the factors that determine environmentally significant behaviors and that can effectively alter them. The article concludes by presenting some major propositions supported by available research and some principles for guiding future research and informing the design of behavioral programs for environmental protection.
Citations
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