What makes you a ‘hero’ for nature? Socio-psychological profiling of leaders committed to nature and biodiversity protection across seven EU countries

01 Pubblicazione su rivista
Scopelliti Massimiliano, Molinario Erica, Bonaiuto Flavia, Bonnes Mirilia, Cicero Lavinia, De Dominicis Stefano, Fornara Ferdinando, Admiraal Jeroen, Beringer Almut, Dedeurwaerdere Tom, de Groot Wouter, Hiedanpää Juha, Knights Paul, Knippenberg Luuk, Polajnar Horvat Katarina, Popa Florin, Porras-Gomez Carmen, Smrekar Aleš, Soethe Nathalie, Vivero-Pol Jose Luis, van den Born Riyan, Bonaiuto Marino
ISSN: 0964-0568

Biodiversity loss is a widely debated world problem, with huge economic, social, and environmentally negative consequences. Despite the relevance of this issue, the psychological determinants of committed action towards nature and biodiversity have rarely been investigated. This study aims at identifying a comprehensive social-psychological profile of activists committed to biodiversity protection and at understanding what determinants best predict their activism. A questionnaire investigating relevant social-psychological constructs identified in the literature on environmental activism was administered to 183 outstanding leaders (vs. non-leaders) in biodiversity protection across seven EU countries. Leaders (vs. non-leaders) in biodiversity protection showed, among other constructs, higher scores on environmental values, attitudes, identity, perceived control, a feeling of union and spirituality with nature, and willingness to sacrifice for their cause. Results are discussed within the theoretical framework of a motivation model of committed action for nature and biodiversity protection. Applications of the results are also proposed.

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