Environmental Behavior Research Articles

Sustainable leadership: empowering green organizational citizenship behaviour through employee green value in the Indian healthcare sector

Purpose Leadership is crucial for promoting employees’ environmental behaviour, essential for implementing sustainability initiatives. Academics and practitioners emphasize the need for integrated top-to-bottom actions to address environmental issues effectively. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate how Environment-Specific Servant Leadership (ESSL), via Employee Green Value (EGV), promotes Green Organizational Citizenship Behaviour (GOCB). Design/methodology/approach The present study adopted a quantitative cross-sectional approach. Additionally, a total of 333 data points were collected from employees working in various hospitals in Ranchi, India. The data and hypothesized relationships were analysed using PLS-SEM with SmartPLS 4.0 software. Findings The present results indicate that ESSL has a notable direct effect on employees’ GOCB. Moreover, EGV was identified as a partial mediator in the relationship between ESSL and GOCB. Practical implications The findings imply that leaders who prioritize sustainability and exhibit environmentally responsible behaviour, along with employees who value and prioritize green initiatives, can create a workplace that value pro-environmental practices. In this workplace employees are also likely to demonstrate green organizational citizenship behaviour, therefore promoting sustainable practices and outcomes. Originality/value This study provides valuable insight into the individual psychological mechanisms that drive voluntary participation in environmental protection and conservation efforts. Furthermore, the study also highlighted the relationship between ESSL, EGV and GOCB in terms of their work environment as well as highlighting the potential for organizations to create a more sustainable and socially responsible workplace.

Development of a Marmoset Apparatus for Automated Pulling to study cooperative behaviors

In recent years, the field of neuroscience has increasingly recognized the importance of studying animal behaviors in naturalistic environments to gain deeper insights into ethologically relevant behavioral processes and neural mechanisms. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), due to its small size, prosocial nature, and genetic proximity to humans, has emerged as a pivotal model toward this effort. However, traditional research methodologies often fail to fully capture the nuances of marmoset social interactions and cooperative behaviors. To address this critical gap, we developed the Marmoset Apparatus for Automated Pulling (MarmoAAP), a novel behavioral apparatus designed for studying cooperative behaviors in common marmosets. MarmoAAP addresses the limitations of traditional behavioral research methods by enabling high-throughput, detailed behavior outputs that can be integrated with video and audio recordings, allowing for more nuanced and comprehensive analyses even in a naturalistic setting. We also highlight the flexibility of MarmoAAP in task parameter manipulation which accommodates a wide range of behaviors and individual animal capabilities. Furthermore, MarmoAAP provides a platform to perform investigations of neural activity underlying naturalistic social behaviors. MarmoAAP is a versatile and robust tool for advancing our understanding of primate behavior and related cognitive processes. This new apparatus bridges the gap between ethologically relevant animal behavior studies and neural investigations, paving the way for future research in cognitive and social neuroscience using marmosets as a model organism.

Analisis Aspek-Aspek Keberhasilan Pembelajaran di Indonesia: Ditinjau dari Studi Observasi

The importance of this research lies in its contribution to the development of educational policy, the formulation of more effective teaching strategies, and the provision of direction to educational practitioners. By better understanding the factors that influence learning success, it is hoped that this research can become a valuable guide in improving the quality of education in Indonesia so that it meets global demands and prepares future generations optimally. Observational analysis research is a research approach in which researchers make direct observations of certain phenomena or events to gain a deeper understanding. In this context, "observational analysis" refers to the process of analyzing data obtained through direct observation. This method is usually used to explore in-depth information about behavior, interactions, or certain situations in the natural environment. Observational analysis research is often adopted in the fields of psychology, sociology, anthropology and education (Moleong, 2010). Based on the description of the research background related to the analysis of aspects of successful learning in Indonesia through observational studies, it can be concluded that education in Indonesia faces complex and diverse challenges. Several obstacles, such as regional disparities, varying teacher quality, access to technology, and the role of parents in education, provide a context that requires serious attention.

Development of a Marmoset Apparatus for Automated Pulling to study cooperative behaviors.

In recent years, the field of neuroscience has increasingly recognized the importance of studying animal behaviors in naturalistic environments to gain deeper insights into ethologically relevant behavioral processes and neural mechanisms. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), due to its small size, prosocial nature, and genetic proximity to humans, has emerged as a pivotal model toward this effort. However, traditional research methodologies often fail to fully capture the nuances of marmoset social interactions and cooperative behaviors. To address this critical gap, we developed the Marmoset Apparatus for Automated Pulling (MarmoAAP), a novel behavioral apparatus designed for studying cooperative behaviors in common marmosets. MarmoAAP addresses the limitations of traditional behavioral research methods by enabling high-throughput, detailed behavior outputs that can be integrated with video and audio recordings, allowing for more nuanced and comprehensive analyses even in a naturalistic setting. We also highlight the flexibility of MarmoAAP in task parameter manipulation which accommodates a wide range of behaviors and individual animal capabilities. Furthermore, MarmoAAP provides a platform to perform investigations of neural activity underlying naturalistic social behaviors. MarmoAAP is a versatile and robust tool for advancing our understanding of primate behavior and related cognitive processes. This new apparatus bridges the gap between ethologically relevant animal behavior studies and neural investigations, paving the way for future research in cognitive and social neuroscience using marmosets as a model organism.

Realization of environmentally friendly behaviours in sports from the point of view of managers and organizers

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to realize environmentally friendly behaviors in sports from the point of view of managers and organizers of sports events. Methodology: In order to collect data, a 4-part researcher-made questionnaire including 40 questions was used. The face and content validity was confirmed by a survey of related faculty members, and its reliability was reported using Cronbach's alpha of 0.83. The statistical sample of the research consists of managers and organizers of sports events in ten provinces of the country. After distributing the questionnaires, finally 254 questionnaires were returned. Results: Data analysis was done using Amos and SPSS-19 software. Pearson's correlation coefficient and path analysis were used to test hypotheses, and bootstrap method was used to test indirect relationships (mediation). The proposed model was also tested to investigate the relationships between the factors. The results showed that the three factors of environmental awareness, perception of environmental effects, and the intention to support green sports events affect the actual environmental friendly behavior. Also, the results showed that the variable that intends to support green sports events plays a role as a mediating variable and the extent of the impact of environmental awareness and perception on the actual environmentally friendly behavior is caused by the intention to support green sports events. Conclusions: Based on the proposed research model, the environmentally friendly behaviors of sports event organizers and managers and their intention to protect green sports events are largely influenced by their knowledge and understanding of environmental issues. It seems that understanding the basic factors affecting people's actual and supportive behaviors towards green sports is necessary to promote environmental behavior.

Exploring the Impact of Values Education on Sustainable Environmental Awareness and Behavior Among Eighth-Grade Students

Education plays a crucial role in fostering numerous established and sustainable behaviors in individuals. Among these behaviors, environmental awareness is particularly important because of its significant sociological impact. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of values education on environmental awareness and pro-environmental behavior. This study employs a mixed-method approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The quantitative part of this research consists of 225 eighth-grade students and the qualitative part consists of six Turkish teachers. As a result of the quantitative analysis, it was found that the environmental attitude levels of the middle school students participating in this study were at a high level. In the qualitative analysis, it was found that the teachers participating in this study established a strong connection between mother tongue education, values education, and environmental education. The outcomes from the qualitative and quantitative analysis were discussed in depth and compared with the results previously presented in the literature. Additionally, the findings of this study indicated opportunities for future research as presented in the Discussion Section.

A comprehensive review of emerging contaminants in water sources

The quality of water is crucial for the health of both the environment and humans, but new challenges from emerging contaminants threaten this vital resource. This paper reviews the origin and significance of water quality issues linked to emerging pollutants, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, microplastics, pesticides, and industrial chemicals. These persistent chemicals exhibit complex behaviors and have the potential to impact ecological systems and human health significantly. The review comprehensively examines the pathways through which these pollutants enter water systems, such as agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and urban stormwater runoff. It also covers the latest techniques for identifying these pollutants, emphasizing recent advancements in sampling methods and analytical techniques while highlighting the challenges of detecting contaminants at low concentrations. The discussion includes the environmental behavior of these contaminants, focusing on their properties, degradation mechanisms, and bioaccumulation potential. It further explores the impacts of these emerging contaminants on ecosystems and human health, examining both conventional and innovative treatment technologies. Additionally, the review identifies current research gaps and future trends in the analysis of new pollutants. It underscores the importance of public awareness, effective communication strategies, and innovative approaches to environmental protection.

Who is sufficient, and why? A mixed-methods approach to the social determinants of sufficiency lifestyles in the pursuit of decarbonisation

Sufficiency consists of less materially intensive consumption patterns that focus on wellbeing rather than material wealth. Such consumption patterns are commonly referred to as sufficiency lifestyles and are increasingly seen as a key driver for achieving decarbonisation. However, while research finds that sustainable consumption and environmental behaviour are often associated with high social status, lower carbon footprints and lower consumption more broadly are associated in the literature with poverty and deprivation. This article aims to investigate whether a combination of low carbon footprint and high wellbeing exists, what socio-demographic characteristics are associated with it, and to explore the actual experiences of people engaged in sufficiency lifestyles through initiatives and their characteristics. We use a mixed-methods design with data from demographically representative surveys in Denmark, Germany, Italy and Latvia (N=5,080), and in-depth interviews with participants from sufficiency-oriented intentional communities (N=90). We find that sufficiency lifestyles are linked to a stronger inclination towards sufficiency orientation or a heightened stronger environmental identity, accompanied by a negative correlation with social deprivation aspects. Drawing on the interviews, we find that individuals engaged in sufficiency-oriented practices tend to benefit from economic, social and cultural resources that allow them to overcome energy dependency and constraints, and that their motivations are not limited to pro-environmental behaviour. Based on these empirical findings, we explore potential avenues for the diffusion of sufficiency-oriented lifestyles, including the establishment of binding rules through a democratic process that curb overconsumption while providing attractive low-carbon lifestyles for all.

Personality Dynamics and the Impact of Life Events

Understanding personality dynamics in response to life events is crucial for comprehending individual differences in social behavior. The introversion-extraversion spectrum, developed by Carl Jung, offers a framework to explore how individuals channel their energy. This spectrum, initially perceived as a dichotomy, is now recognized as a continuum, with most individuals exhibiting traits of both introversion and extraversion. Life events encompass significant occurrences or milestones that profoundly impact an individual's life, either positively or negatively. Despite the growing importance of this relationship, there is a lack of experimental research exploring the causal impact of life events on introversion-extraversion traits. This research aims to enhance understanding of how life events influence personality traits, with a particular focus on the interplay between intra-psychic and extra-psychic factors, and discussing how introverts and extroverts manage their behavior in different environments. Utilizing a questionnaire survey method and validated psychometric instruments, data from 203 participants will be analyzed to understand the complex interplay between personality traits and life events. The findings contribute to our understanding of personality dynamics and have implications for interventions aimed at promoting psychological well-being.

The impact of public self-consciousness on purchase intentions: Roles of self-disclosure and avatar identification

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between public self-consciousness and purchase intention and the role of self-disclosure and avatar identification in the metaverse. We conducted an online survey with 173 young female Zepeto users in Vietnam to test our hypotheses and gain insights. The results show that all direct effects in this research are supported and that self-disclosure and avatar identification (including similarity identification and wishful identification) partially moderate the relationship between public self-consciousness and purchase intention. This study adds to the literature review of user behaviors in the metaverse environment and provides insights for metaverse marketers to improve marketing strategies.

From Knowledge to Action: The Power of Green Communication and Social Media Engagement in Sustainable Food Consumption

Understanding what drives sustainable consumer behavior is crucial for effective green marketing strategies. We set out to explore the mechanisms explaining the relationships between environmental attitudes, perceived environmental knowledge, and green consumption values on consumer behaviors, specifically the mediating roles of receptivity to green communication and social media engagement with environmentally friendly firms. We also investigated the moderating role of information seeking in these relationships. Data were collected through a survey of 610 Greek respondents between May and July 2024 and analyzed using IBM SPSS and AMOS version 23. Findings show significant and positive paths between green consumption values and receptivity to green communication, e-word-of-mouth intention, food behavior, and other environmental behaviors, while receptivity to green communication and social media consumers’ engagement with environmentally friendly firms has a significant and positive impact on e-word-of-mouth intention and food behavior. Findings reveal that credible and detailed communication is essential for engaging information-seeking consumers, who are more critical of green messages.

Background predation risk induces anxiety-like behaviour and predator neophobia in zebrafish

Prey face a major challenge in balancing predator avoidance with other essential activities. In environments with high risk, prey may exhibit neophobia (fear of novelty) due to the increased likelihood of novel stimuli being dangerous. The zebrafish, Danio rerio, is an established model organism for many scientific studies. Although spatial and object neophobia in zebrafish have received previous attention, little is known about the role of background risk in inducing neophobia in zebrafish. Here, we present two experiments using zebrafish to explore whether background predation risk can induce anxiety-like behaviour in a novel environment and neophobic responses when exposed to a novel odour. Over five days, we repeatedly exposed zebrafish to either high background risk in the form of chemical alarm cues (i.e., injured conspecific cues that indicate a predator attack) or a low-risk water control stimulus. In Experiment 1, when tested in a novel tank, zebrafish exposed to high predation risk displayed anxiety-like responses (reduced activity and increased bottom time spent) compared to their low-risk counterparts. Moreover, high-risk individuals showed reduced intra-session habituation to the novel tank compared to low-risk individuals. In Experiment 2, high-risk individuals exhibited fear responses toward a novel odour, unlike low-risk individuals. These results reveal that short-term repeated exposures to high risk can induce anxiety-like behaviour and predator odour neophobia in zebrafish.

Phosphate-Induced Acidic Microenvironment for Improved Contaminant Removal during FeS Oxygenation.

The coexistence of mackinawite (FeS) and phosphate is widely observed in natural systems. However, the underlying mechanism regarding how phosphate influences the environmental behavior of FeS, especially during the FeS oxygenation in aquatic systems, remains in its fancy. This study for the first time reported that the presence of phosphate, even at a low concentration of 0.3 mM, significantly promoted the FeS-mediated O2 activation and thus the pollutant degradation. The enhancement was attributed to a substantial increase in the generation of •OH, as evidenced by the electron paramagnetic resonance tests and the identification of the probing products. A combination of experiments and theoretical calculations revealed that phosphate adsorbed onto the FeS surface via a monodentate mononuclear configuration, establishing an acidic microenvironment on the FeS surface. Such acidic microenvironment not only increased the utilization efficiency of Fe(II) toward H2O2 generation (i.e., ), but also prevented the subsequent side reaction of H2O2 self-decomposition (i.e., ). The results highlight the beneficial role of commonly encountered phosphate in FeS-based systems, which has profound implications for the degradation of waterborne contaminants.

Confidence control for efficient behaviour in dynamic environments.

Signatures of confidence emerge during decision-making, implying confidence may be of functional importance to decision processes themselves. We formulate an extension of sequential sampling models of decision-making in which confidence is used online to actively moderate the quality and quantity of evidence accumulated for decisions. The benefit of this model is that it can respond to dynamic changes in sensory evidence quality. We highlight this feature by designing a dynamic sensory environment where evidence quality can be smoothly adapted within the timeframe of a single decision. Our model with confidence control offers a superior description of human behaviour in this environment, compared to sequential sampling models without confidence control. Using multivariate decoding of electroencephalography (EEG), we uncover EEG correlates of the model's latent processes, and show stronger EEG-derived confidence control is associated with faster, more accurate decisions. These results support a neurobiologically plausible framework featuring confidence as an active control mechanism for improving behavioural efficiency.

The Impact of Metal Ions on MXene Membranes: Critical Role of Titanium Vacancies.

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) and MXene-based membranes hold promise for applications including water purification and seawater desalination; however, their environmental behavior and fate in these matrices remain unknown. In this study, we systematically assessed the reaction efficiencies of Ti3C2Tx at varying important environmental conditions. Our experiments revealed that copper and iron ions accelerated the oxidation rate of Ti3C2Tx 55.4 and 33.4 times, respectively. TiO2 and amorphous carbon were identified as the primary solid products. Based on in situ water-phase atomic force microscopy, atomic high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and theoretical results, we postulate that metal ions enhance Ti3C2Tx oxidation by spontaneously migrating and anchoring at Ti vacancies, which then become active sites for this reaction. This process increases the adsorption of H2O and oxygen, making the Ti vacancy-rich surface convex area the most vulnerable site to attack. The findings in this study provide useful information for a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between MXene structural defects and metal ions as well as for the design and modification of MXene membranes resistant to metal ion impact.

Advancing the Understanding of Microplastic Weathering: Insights from a Novel Polarized Light Scattering Approach.

Weathering is a significant process that alters the properties of microplastics (MPs) and consequently affects their environmental behaviors. In this study, we introduced a novel approach based on polarized light scattering technique, which offers advantages in terms of rapid, high-throughput, and submicron-sized detection. This technique was successfully applied to characterize the weathered MPs after a 180-day laboratory simulation of coastal environments. By employing polarization measurements, we obtained a 46-dimensional matrix data set for the weathered MP fragments and subsequently processed them using a backpropagation neural network. The successful extraction of effective polarization pulses confirmed the presence of MP fragments within the size range of 0.2-60 μm, yielding total accuracies for size classification ranging from 78.9 to 86.9%. Furthermore, this technique achieved an overall accuracy of 93.8% in classifying MPs with different weathering degrees and polymer types, revealing polarization parameters associated with size and morphological changes play a dominant role in characterizing the weathering process of MPs. Compared with conventional approaches, the novel polarized light scattering approach holds great promise for rapid, high-throughput, and accurate characterization of MPs with small sizes. The findings of this study provided new insights into how MPs change after long-term weathering in aquatic environments.

Data Augmentation Method Using Room Transfer Function for Monitoring of Domestic Activities

Monitoring domestic activities helps us to understand user behaviors in indoor environments, which has garnered interest as it aids in understanding human activities in context-aware computing. In the field of acoustics, this goal has been achieved through studies employing machine learning techniques, which are widely used for classification tasks involving sound recognition and other objectives. Machine learning typically achieves better performance with large amounts of high-quality training data. Given the high cost of data collection, development datasets often suffer from imbalanced data or lack high-quality samples, leading to performance degradations in machine learning models. The present study aims to address this data issue through data augmentation techniques. Specifically, since the proposed method targets indoor activities in domestic activity detection, room transfer functions were used for data augmentation. The results show that the proposed method achieves a 0.59% improvement in the F1-Score (micro) from that of the baseline system for the development dataset. Additionally, test data including microphones that were not used during training achieved an F1-Score improvement of 0.78% over that of the baseline system. This demonstrates the enhanced model generalization performance of the proposed method on samples having different room transfer functions to those of the trained dataset.

How do aspirations work? Financial performance shortfalls and firms' green innovation

AbstractResearch on the behavioral theory of the firm (BTOF) highlights the role of performance shortfalls in managers' decision process. However, previous studies tend to ignore the heterogeneity of historical and social aspirations. This paper investigates how firms' green innovation, a typical environmental behavior, differently responds to financial performance shortfalls relative to historical and social aspirations. Based on the view of problemistic search, we argue and find that financial performance shortfalls derived from historical aspiration impair green innovation, whereas financial performance shortfalls derived from social aspiration first reduce and then promote green innovation, demonstrating a U‐shaped relationship. Moreover, we find that the two aspirations may interact to influence green innovation activities. Specifically, the negative effect of performance shortfalls (historical) is more pronounced when the financial performance is below social aspiration, whereas the U‐shaped effect is flattened if the financial performance is at or above historical aspiration. Further, we explore how the effects vary with financial constraints and manager overconfidence to distinguish the underlying mechanisms. Our study extends a nascent understanding of aspiration heterogeneity by revealing firms' different green innovation strategies in response to different aspirations.

Application of social cognitive theory to determine shaping factors of environmental intention and behaviors of ecotourist in forest areas

BackgroundEcotourism as a responsible travel to natural areas is proposed as a strategy for forest conservation by enhancing the livelihoods of local communities. However, engaging in environmentally friendly behaviors during forest visit is a crucial factor in achieving this conservation. This study aimed to examine the determinants of intention and actual environmental behavior among ecotourists during their visits to forests.MethodsUtilizing social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework, the data from 409 visitors of recreational forest were analyzed. After confirming the validity and reliability of the data, structural equation modeling was employed for analysis.ResultsThe results indicated that the model could explain 59% of the behavioral intention and 27% of the actual environmentally friendly behaviors of ecotourists during their forest visits. Additionally, social influence and the behaviors of other ecotourists were identified as two significant determinants of individuals’ behavioral intention. Self-efficacy and behavioral intention also emerged as significant factors which shape the actual environmental behaviors of tourists, positively.DiscussionThe findings suggest that social expectations, learning from fellow tourists, and enhancing individuals’ abilities while addressing barriers to exhibiting environmentally friendly behaviors should be prioritized in promotional planning for ecotourism.

Wearable Biosensor Smart Glasses Based on Augmented Reality and Eye Tracking.

With the rapid development of wearable biosensor technology, the combination of head-mounted displays and augmented reality (AR) technology has shown great potential for health monitoring and biomedical diagnosis applications. However, further optimizing its performance and improving data interaction accuracy remain crucial issues that must be addressed. In this study, we develop smart glasses based on augmented reality and eye tracking technology. Through real-time information interaction with the server, the smart glasses realize accurate scene perception and analysis of the user's intention and combine with mixed-reality display technology to provide dynamic and real-time intelligent interaction services. A multi-level hardware architecture and optimized data processing process are adopted during the research process to enhance the system's real-time accuracy. Meanwhile, combining the deep learning method with the geometric model significantly improves the system's ability to perceive user behavior and environmental information in complex environments. The experimental results show that when the distance between the subject and the display is 1 m, the eye tracking accuracy of the smart glasses can reach 1.0° with an error of no more than ±0.1°. This study demonstrates that the effective integration of AR and eye tracking technology dramatically improves the functional performance of smart glasses in multiple scenarios. Future research will further optimize smart glasses' algorithms and hardware performance, enhance their application potential in daily health monitoring and medical diagnosis, and provide more possibilities for the innovative development of wearable devices in medical and health management.