Defense Date
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
David S. Chester
Second Advisor
Jeffrey D. Green
Third Advisor
Nicholas Thomson
Abstract
The consequences of anthropogenic climate change are severe, continuously accelerating, and pose serious threats to the human and natural world. It is imperative to address the climate crisis from a psychosocial perspective and incite lasting, individual-level behavioral change. Various theoretical models have been adapted or developed to explain pro-environmental behaviors. However, the predictive powers of the most commonly used models have proven to be limited, and the underlying psychological processes of pro-environmental behavior constitute a significant gap in the literature. The present study identifies two psychological processes that show significant promise in motivating pro-environmental behaviors: moral outrage and mindfulness. Moral outrage demonstrates powerful drive of positive social behaviors, and people are motivated to engage in moral outrage due to its various social and personal benefits. Robust evidence supports mindfulness as a consistent predictor of prosocial and pro-environmental behaviors. These two independent antecedents of behavior have been shown to interact with each other to create an amplified effect in other prosocial contexts, but the effect has never been studied in the context of pro-environmental behavior. The present study hypothesized that both trait and state mindfulness will increase the positive effect that moral outrage has on pro-environmental intentions and behavior. Preliminary results conducted from an underpowered sample revealed conflicting interactions and effects. However, if observed, the final results will greatly contribute to the literature, expanding upon traditional conceptualizations of moral outrage and mindfulness. The findings will also carry practical implications, demonstrating the complementary effects of two constructs in an innovative approach toward motivating pro-environmental behavior.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
7-11-2024