Group Identities, Value Orientations, and Public Preferences for Energy and Water Resource Management Policy Approaches in the American West

Abstract

Earlier research suggests social identity’s association with environmental attitudes and behaviors and identifies several social-identity-based strategies that can potentially foster pro-environment behaviors. This paper examines whether and how social identities are associated with support for pro-environment policies. Using our survey of 1,804 randomly selected respondents, we seek to analyze how group identities are associated with demographic characteristics and value orientations of citizens in the American West, and how these group identities are associated with support for policies aimed at resource development (supply expansion) versus conservation (demand reduction) of energy and water resources. Findings from cluster analysis and binary logistic regression models indicate a significant association between social identity and policy preferences. Respondents who strongly identify themselves as environmentalists, conservationists, and wildlife advocates are more likely to support conservation policies and less likely to support resource development policies compared to those who strongly identify as hunters, fishers, and property rights activists.