Changing Family Habits: A Case Study Into Climate Change Mitigation Behavior in Families

Yıl 2012, Cilt: 2 Sayı: 2, 77 - 87, 30.06.2012

Michel Leger , Diane Pruneau

Öz

A case-study methodology was used to explore the process of change as experienced by 3 suburban families in an attempt to incorporate climate change mitigation behavior into their day to day life. Cross-case analysis of the findings revealed the emergence of three major conceptual themes associated with behavior adoption: collectively applied competences such as self-efficacy and perseverance; shared ecological values among family members; and collaborative family dynamics. Based on these findings, the authors conclude by outlining the lessons learned in terms of their potential for policy makers and possible educational programs for families looking to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Environmental education, environmental behavior, climate change mitigation, environmental competences, family systems.

Kaynakça

• Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179-211.
• Armitage, C. J., Sheeran, P., Connor, M. & Arden, M. A. (2004). Stages of change or changes of stage? Predicting transitions in transtheoretical model stages in relation to healthy food choices. Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, 72(3), 491-499.
• Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: the exercise of control. New York: Freeman.
• Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs NJ: Prentice Hall.
• Berenguer, J. (2007). The effect of empathy in proenvironmental attitudes and behaviors. Environment and Behavior. 39(2), 269-283.
• Borden, D. & Francis, J. L. (1978). Who cares about ecology? Personality and sex difference in environmental concern. Journal of Personality, 46, 190-203.
• Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• DeGroot, J. I. M. & Steg, L. (2009). Morality and prosocial behaviour: The role of awareness, responsibility and norms in the norm activation model. Journal of Social Psychology, 149(4), 425- 449.
• Donner, S. (2007). Domain of the gods: an editorial essay. Climatic Change, 84(3-4), p.231-236.
• Gärling, T., Fujii, S., Garling, A. & Jakobsson, C. (2003). Moderating effects of social value orientation on determinants of proenvironmental behaviour intention. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23(1), 1-9.
• Giorgi, A. P. & Giorgi, B. M. (2003). The descriptive phenomenological psychological method. In P. M. Camic, J. E. Rhodes & L. Yardley (dir.), Qualitative research in psychology. Expanding perspectives in methodology and design (243-274). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
• Hines, J. M., Hungerford, H. R. & Tomera A. N. (1986-1987). Analysis and synthesis of research on responsible pro-environmental behaviour: a meta-analysis, The Journal of Environmental Education, 18(2), 1-8.
• Hungerford, H. R. & Volk, T. (1990). Changing learner behavior through environmental education. Journal of Environmental Education. 21(3), 8-21.
• Hwang, Y. H., Kim. S. L. & Jeng, J. M. (2000). Examining the causal relationships among selected antecedents of responsible environmental behavior. The Journal of Environmental Education, 31(4), 19-24.
• Joannert, P., Barrette, J., Boufrahi, S. & Masciotra, D. (2004). Contribution critique au développement des programmes d’études : compétences, constructivisme et interdisciplinarité. Revue des sciences de l’éducation, 30(3), 667-696.
• Joireman, J. A., Lasane, T. P., Bennett, J., Richards, D. & Solaimani, S. (2001). Integrating social value orientation and the consideration of future consequences within the extended norm activation model of proenvironmental behaviour. British Journal of Social Psychology. 40(1), 133-155.
• Kaiser, F. G. & Wilson, M. (2004). Goal-directed conservation behavior: the specific composition of a general performance. Personality and Individual Differences, 36, 1531-1544.
• Kerry, J. (2010). Les compétences démontrées par des employés municipaux impliqués dans un processus d'adaptation aux changements climatiques (Master’s thesis). Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB.
• Kollmus, A. & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the gap : Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behaviour? Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239-261.
• Paillé, P. & Mucchielli, A. (2008). L’analyse qualitative en sciences humaines et sociales. Paris : Armand Colin.
• Poupart, J., Deslauriers, J.-P., Groulx, L., Laperrière, A., Mayer, R. & Pires, A. P. (1997). La recherche qualitative. Enjeux épistémologiques et méthodologiques. Montréal : Éditions Gaëtan Morin.
• Prochaska, J. O., DiClemente, C. C. & Norcross, J. C. (1992). In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviours. American Psychologist, 47(9), 1102-1114.
• Pruneau, D., Doyon, A., Langis, J., Martin, L. Ouellet, E. & Boudreau, G. (2006). The process of change experimented by teachers and students when voluntarily trying environmental behaviours. Applied Environmental Education and Communication, 5(1). 33-40.
• Salem, G. (2005). L’approche thérapeutique de la famille. Paris : Masson.
• Seidel, P. (1998). Invisible Walls: Why We Ignore the Damage We Inflict on the Planet- and Ourselves. New York: Prometheus Books.
• Stern, P. C. (2002). Towards a coherent theory of environmentally significant behaviour. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 407-424.
• Stern, P. C., Dietz, T. & Guagnano, G. A. (1998). A brief inventory of values. Education and Psychological Measurement. 58, 984-1001.
• Stern, P. C. & Dietz, T. (1994). The value basis of environmental concern. Journal of Social Issues. 50(3), 65-84.
• Stoett, P. (2009). Looking for leadership: Canada and climate change policy. In H. Selin & S. D.
• Vandeveer (Eds.) Changing climate in North American Politics: Institutions, Policymaking and Multilevel Governance (47-64). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
• UNESCO-UNEP (1988). International Strategy for Action in the Field of Environemental Education and Training for the 1990’s, Paris: UNESCO, ED-87/conf. 402/col. July 1 1987, 44 pages.
• Utzschneider, A. & Pruneau, D. (2010). Students’ decision-making process during a sustainable development project. The International Journal of Sustainable Development and Word Ecology. 17(1), 39-47.
• Van Manen, M. (1990). Researching lived experience. London: The Althouse Press.
• Van Vugt, M., Meertens, R. M. & Van Lange, P. A. M. (1995). Car versus public transportation? The role of social value orientations in a real-life social dilemma. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 25, 258-278.
• Whitmarsh, L. et O’Neill, S. (2011). Introduction: Opportunities for and barriers to engaging individuals with climate change. In L. Whitmarsh, S. O’Neill & I. Lorenzoni (Eds.) Engaging the public with climate change: behaviour change and communication. Washington: Earthscan.
• Wolf, J. (2011). Ecological Citizenship as public engagement with climate change. In L. Whitmarsh, S. O’Neill & I. Lorenzoni (Eds.) Engaging the public with climate change: behaviour change and communication. Washington: Earthscan