Connectivity with nature as a measure of environmental values

Daniel D. Dutcher, James C. Finley, A. E. Luloff, Janet Buttolph Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

355 Scopus citations

Abstract

The authors hypothesize that environmental values derive from a sense of connectivity with nature. Connectivity describes a perception of sameness between the self, others, and the natural world. The experience of connectivity involves dissolution of boundaries and a sense of a shared or common essence between the self, nature, and others. Connectivity with nature differs theoretically and operationally from other explanations of environmental values, including cultural bias, postmaterialism, and social altruism. The authors describe their development of a sociometric scale to operationalize connectivity with nature. Based on data from a mail survey of Pennsylvania landowners, the authors use multiple regression analyses to determine the extent to which connectivity with nature predicts and explains environmental concern and behavior in the presence of standard sociodemographic variables. Survey respondents reported a high level of connectivity with nature, and connectivity retained a significant and positive relationship to environmental concern and environmental behavior in multiple regression models. Implications of these findings are advanced.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)474-493
Number of pages20
JournalEnvironment and Behavior
Volume39
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Environmental Science

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