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Images of Nature, Nature-Self Representation, and Environmental Attitudes

Author

Listed:
  • Lauren E. Ambrose

    (Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85207-1104, USA
    Ambrose and Wiezel contributed equally to this research and the resulting manuscript, and are joint first authors listed in alphabetical order.)

  • Adi Wiezel

    (Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85207-1104, USA
    Ambrose and Wiezel contributed equally to this research and the resulting manuscript, and are joint first authors listed in alphabetical order.)

  • Erika B. Pages

    (Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85207-1104, USA)

  • Michelle N. Shiota

    (Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85207-1104, USA)

Abstract

Prior work suggests that feeling small relative to nature (Nature-Self Size; NSS) and inclusion of nature in the self-concept (INS) are both associated with more pro-environmental attitudes. The present experiment asked whether exposure to stimuli eliciting awe—an emotion often evoked by extraordinary panoramic views of nature, characterized by subjective experience of “small self” and modulation of reliance on stored concepts—leads to increased NSS and/or INS, thereby promoting pro-environmental policy attitudes. Participants in this online experiment were randomly assigned to view photographs of extraordinary panoramic nature scenes, prosaic nature images, desirable foods, or neutral scenes before completing measures of INS, NSS, and support for environmental conservation policies. Analyses revealed that INS significantly mediated the effects of exposure to panoramic nature scenes (versus a neutral control) on pro-environmental policy attitudes; however, the same effect was observed for the prosaic nature and tasty foods images. Results suggest that exposure to awe-eliciting stimuli can promote pro-environmental attitudes via modulation of the self-concept, but this may be due to pleasant affect rather than awe per se. Future research with real-life stimuli and longitudinal designs is needed to further examine the lasting effects of awe and other emotional states on the self-concept and associated environmental attitudes.

Suggested Citation

  • Lauren E. Ambrose & Adi Wiezel & Erika B. Pages & Michelle N. Shiota, 2021. "Images of Nature, Nature-Self Representation, and Environmental Attitudes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-9, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:8025-:d:596695
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yan Yang & Jing Hu & Fengjie Jing & Bang Nguyen, 2018. "From Awe to Ecological Behavior: The Mediating Role of Connectedness to Nature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-14, July.
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