Helping Nature: The Impact of Exposure to Nature on Prosociality and Sustainability

The biophilia hypothesis states that humans have an innate need to connect with nature because it was evolutionarily adaptive for our survival. Research shows that nature exposure provides many physical and psychological benefits, and that nature relatedness is positively associated with environmentalism and well-being. Preliminary evidence suggests that nature exposure may also be linked to increased prosociality and sustainable behaviours. Study 1 found that viewing videos of pleasant and unpleasant nature had a similar positive impact on connectedness to nature, concern for others, and willingness to engage in proenvironmental behaviours. In contrast, participants exposed to nature in Study 2 were less likely to volunteer to help someone and results concerning interest in sustainability were inconclusive. Multiple methodological and theoretical explanations were discussed to account for these ambiguous findings. Meta-analyses of relevant studies suggested that, on average, nature exposure does cause increased prosociality and sustainability.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

Carleton University

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Capaldi, Colin A.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2014 the author(s). Theses may be used for non-commercial research, educational, or related academic purposes only. Such uses include personal study, research, scholarship, and teaching. Theses may only be shared by linking to Carleton University Institutional Repository and no part may be used without proper attribution to the author. No part may be used for commercial purposes directly or indirectly via a for-profit platform; no adaptation or derivative works are permitted without consent from the copyright owner.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

10.22215/etd/2014-10448

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:carleton.scholaris.ca:20.500.14718/38536