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Understanding Attitudes and Pro-Environmental Behaviors in a Chilean Community

Author

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  • Nicolás C. Bronfman

    (Engineering Sciences Department, Universidad Andres Bello, Avenida República 237, Santiago 8370146, Chile
    National Research Center for Integrated Natural Disaster Management, CONICYT/FONDAP/15110017, Santiago 7820436, Chile)

  • Pamela C. Cisternas

    (Engineering Sciences Department, Universidad Andres Bello, Avenida República 237, Santiago 8370146, Chile
    National Research Center for Integrated Natural Disaster Management, CONICYT/FONDAP/15110017, Santiago 7820436, Chile)

  • Esperanza López-Vázquez

    (Interdisciplinary Psychology Research Center, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Pico de Orizaba No. 1 Col. Volcanes, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62350, México)

  • Cristóbal De la Maza

    (Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA)

  • Juan Carlos Oyanedel

    (Public Policy and Management Department, Administration and Economics Faculty, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 8370146, Chile)

Abstract

Environmental protection and restoration are some of the major challenges faced by our society. To address this problem, it is fundamental to understand pro-environmental behaviors in the population, as well as the factors that determine them. There are, however, very few studies conducted in Latin America that are focused in understanding the environmental behavior of its citizens. The main goal of this research was to study the environmental behaviors of a Chilean community and identify the factors that determine them. To that end, a diverse set of environmental behaviors (power and water conservation, environmentally-aware consumer behavior, biodiversity protection, rational automobile use and ecological waste management) and sociodemographic and attitudinal factors—based on the VBN model—were evaluated. Survey data was obtained from a statistically representative sample ( N = 1537) in Santiago, Chile. Our results suggest that several participants displayed tendencies that favor more responsible environmental behaviors, with high environmental concern, and demonstrating their ample awareness of the consequences of failing to protect the environment. Nevertheless, the highest average scores of environmental behavior were related to low cost behaviors and those that imposed the fewest behavioral restrictions. In global terms, we concluded that the youngest subjects in the lowest socioeconomic group obtained the lowest scores across the pro-environmental behavior spectrum.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolás C. Bronfman & Pamela C. Cisternas & Esperanza López-Vázquez & Cristóbal De la Maza & Juan Carlos Oyanedel, 2015. "Understanding Attitudes and Pro-Environmental Behaviors in a Chilean Community," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:10:p:14133-14152:d:57429
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lori M. Hunter & Alison Hatch & Aaron Johnson, 2004. "Cross‐National Gender Variation in Environmental Behaviors," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 85(3), pages 677-694, September.
    2. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
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    14. Adedotun Ayodele Dipeolu & Eziyi Offia Ibem & Joseph Akinlabi Fadamiro & Gabriel Fadairo, 2021. "Factors influencing residents’ attitude towards urban green infrastructure in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 6192-6214, April.
    15. Min Gon Chung & Hana Kang & Thomas Dietz & Patricia Jaimes & Jianguo Liu, 2019. "Activating values for encouraging pro-environmental behavior: the role of religious fundamentalism and willingness to sacrifice," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 9(4), pages 371-385, December.
    16. Caspers Cornelis G.W., 2020. "Role of Trust in Adopting Consumer Social Responsible Behaviour in the Context of Water Use in Domestic Households," South East European Journal of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, June.
    17. Deddy Barnabas Lasfeto & Yohan A. A. Lada & Brian D. Beitzel & Eka Budhi Santosa, 2023. "Sightseers’ Responsible Behavior Toward the Environment at Rural Destinations: The Moderating Role of Levels of Education," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.
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