INCREASING PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCES IN NATURE

One of the primary goals of research in conservation psychology is to analyze how humans behave towards nature and how to change that behavior in a pro-environmental direction. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study focuses on empirically supported ways to increase individual pro-environmental behavior (PEB). We found environmental education (EE) is a useful approach to this, particularly when we implement it younger and for longer periods of time. Informal EE is another prime focus as it shows more success than formal EE alone. Connection to nature (CN) is shown to predict PEB as well. Since this study focuses on ways to change behavior, we looked at how to increase CN. Research suggests that increasing experiences with nature increases CN and, subsequently, PEB. Again, this is particularly useful when implemented during childhood. This review suggests more research attention should be placed on these methods in supporting environmental behavior.