Abstract
Authentic self is believed to be morally good. The current research proposes that the authentic self is also environmentally good. Across two studies, we tested the link between authenticity and pro-environmental attitude and behavior. In Study 1 (N=2,646), dispositional authenticity was found to be a predictor of pro-environmental behavior (PEB). In Study 2 (N=474), participants in the authentic condition (recalling their experiences of being authentic) were more willing to donate money to protect the environment than those in the inauthentic (recalling their experiences of being inauthentic) or the neutral (recalling their experiences of a typical day) conditions. Participants in the authentic condition also reported higher intention to conduct PEB than their peers in the other conditions. The results of the present research provide initial evidence that people are more likely to endorse pro-environmental attitude and behave pro-environmentally when being authentic.
Highlights
Human beings are facing unprecedented environmental problems due to their own behaviors
The four dimensions of dispositional authenticity were all significantly correlated with pro-environmental behavior (PEB), rs > 0.19, ps < 0.001
Regression analysis showed that dispositional authenticity was a significant predictor of PEB, even after controlling for gender, age, and socioeconomic status, β = 0.35, R2 = 0.12, F (4, 2,641) = 92.35, p < 0.001
Summary
Human beings are facing unprecedented environmental problems due to their own behaviors. There are many possible factors influencing people’s pro-environmental behavior (PEB), such as environmental value (Schultz et al, 2005; Byrka et al, 2010), nature experiences (e.g., Rosa and Collado, 2019), and personalities (e.g., Markowitz et al, 2012; Soutter et al, 2020). The current research aims to investigate whether authenticity, a neglected yet important factor, can predict PEB and the intention to conduct PEB. A great deal of research has explored social and psychological influences on PEB, which refers to concrete actions behaved by the actor, (or not) deliberately, that are beneficial for the wellness of the natural environment
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