Chapter 10 - Environmental Concern and Anti-consumerism in the Self-Concept: Do They Share the Same Basis?

Abstract

This chapter examines the relationship among people's conception of themselves and their concern for the environment and for overconsumption. This is a social-psychological approach to understanding the possible forces motivating a societal shift to sustainable forms of consumption. Interest in voluntary simplicity, for many, has clear environment-related basis. These individuals constitute a small portion of the growing number of people interested in voluntary simplicity. The potential for massive voluntary changes in consumption practices must be explored. Such investigations should consider how culture, gender, social class, wealth and other key variables influence the changing consumption habits. Voluntary changes in consumption levels in response to a crisis of self may not be a feasible way of moving towards sustainable consumption if such a crisis depends on first achieving unsustainable levels of material wealth.