TY - JOUR

T1 - Human–nature connectedness as a ‘treatment’ for pro-environmental behavior

T2 - making the case for spatial considerations

AU - Klaniecki, Kathleen

AU - Leventon, Julia

AU - Abson, David J.

PY - 2018/9/1

Y1 - 2018/9/1

N2 - The degree to which an individual feels connected to the natural world can be a positive predictor of pro-environmental behavior (PEB). This has led to calls to ‘reconnect to nature’ as a ‘treatment’ for PEB. What is not clear is the relationship between where one feels connected to nature and where one acts pro-environmentally. We propose that integrating spatial scale into the conceptualization of these constructs will provide insights into how different degrees of connectedness influence pro-environmental behavior. We discuss trends towards a spatial understanding of human–nature connectedness (HNC) and introduce three archetypes that highlight scalar relationships between scale of connectedness and scale of pro-environmental behavior: (1) equal interactions, (2) embedded interactions, and (3) extended interactions. We discuss potential policy and practice implications of taking a spatially explicit approach to HNC–PEB research, and propose a research agenda for investigating these scalar relationships that can inform nature as a ‘treatment’ intervention.

AB - The degree to which an individual feels connected to the natural world can be a positive predictor of pro-environmental behavior (PEB). This has led to calls to ‘reconnect to nature’ as a ‘treatment’ for PEB. What is not clear is the relationship between where one feels connected to nature and where one acts pro-environmentally. We propose that integrating spatial scale into the conceptualization of these constructs will provide insights into how different degrees of connectedness influence pro-environmental behavior. We discuss trends towards a spatial understanding of human–nature connectedness (HNC) and introduce three archetypes that highlight scalar relationships between scale of connectedness and scale of pro-environmental behavior: (1) equal interactions, (2) embedded interactions, and (3) extended interactions. We discuss potential policy and practice implications of taking a spatially explicit approach to HNC–PEB research, and propose a research agenda for investigating these scalar relationships that can inform nature as a ‘treatment’ intervention.

KW - Local-to-global scales

KW - Nature as treatment

KW - Nature connectedness

KW - Pro-environmental behavior

KW - Sustainability

KW - Sustainability Science

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047942743&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11625-018-0578-x

DO - 10.1007/s11625-018-0578-x

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85047942743

VL - 13

SP - 1375

EP - 1388

JO - Sustainability Science

JF - Sustainability Science

SN - 1862-4065

IS - 5

ER -