Ermolaeva P. O., Ermolaeva Y. V. (2019) Critical analysis of foreign theories of environmental behavior. Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes. No. 4. P. 323—346. https: ...

Текст статьи на сайте журнала URL: https://monitoringjournal.ru/index.php/monitoring/article/view/576 (дата обращения 15.01.2020)

Abstract

Based on a meta-analysis of more than 100 articles the authors at-tempt to compare and systematize the basic approaches and theories of en-vironmental behavior which are poorly presented in Russian social-ecological literature. Norm activation theory, theory of planned behavior, “value-belief-norm” theory, self-perception theory, “atti-tude-behavior-context” approach are applied to explain the motivation for pro-ecological behavior. The authors conclude that all these theories have similar components: attitudes, values, behaviors. Most of them are focused on a dependable variable which explains complex ecological behavior. Norm ac-tivation theory explains how, based on initial environmental knowledge, the norm is formed and further transformed into pro-ecological behaviors. In contrast, theory of planed behavior analyzes social norms and relationships between individ-uals and social institutions. Both models show how society perceives the subjects’ behaviors which eventually will be impor-tant in forming the practices. “Value-be-lief-norm” theory is focused on subject’s values and beliefs which launch different ecological activities such as ecological activism, environmentalism in private sphere, pro-ecological behavior at the or-ganizational level. Self-perception theory highlights subject’s experience in envi-ronmental practices. “Attitude-behav-ior-context” theory allows researchers to build multidimensional models based on ecological practices using a number of variables (infrastructure, institutional, socio-economic, demographic, situa-tional variables). Unlike earlier theories, this approach is successful in integrating contextual factors into the analysis of various ecological actions; it explains the reasons why individuals with high level of ecological values and settings have low level of pro-ecological practices.