{"id":{"repo_id":"uiuc","oai_identifier":"oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/83129"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uiuc/oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/83129","repository":{"repo_id":"uiuc","name":"University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign","base_url":"https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh"},"display":{"title":"Environmental Epiphanies: Exploring the Shifts in Human-Nature Interactions","abstract":"The experience of epiphanies accompanied by intense emotions is a common occurrence in the context of natural environments. The occurrence of epiphanies is usually reported as a very memorable episode that has significant influences on subsequent cognition and behavior. Despite the fact that epiphanies occur fairly regularly in people's accounts of their outdoor experiences, they have received little empirical attention. In this study, I conducted an extensive multidisciplinary review of empirical and theoretical literature in order to locate data and conceptual frameworks that may be useful in the understanding of environmental epiphanies. In the context of these frameworks, I conducted an empirical study in which I administered in-depth semi-structured interviews with people who had experienced environmental epiphanies. Using qualitative content analysis guided by a grounded analytical approach, I developed a typology and explored common characteristics and trends across environmental epiphany types. Experiences of epiphanies may have important ramifications for the manner in which people develop attitudes regarding land management issues. The study of environmental epiphanies can inform basic theory regarding conservation psychology, environmental education, and human-nature interactions.","abstract_html":"The experience of epiphanies accompanied by intense emotions is a common occurrence in the context of natural environments. The occurrence of epiphanies is usually reported as a very memorable episode that has significant influences on subsequent cognition and behavior. Despite the fact that epiphanies occur fairly regularly in people&#x27;s accounts of their outdoor experiences, they have received little empirical attention. In this study, I conducted an extensive multidisciplinary review of empirical and theoretical literature in order to locate data and conceptual frameworks that may be useful in the understanding of environmental epiphanies. In the context of these frameworks, I conducted an empirical study in which I administered in-depth semi-structured interviews with people who had experienced environmental epiphanies. Using qualitative content analysis guided by a grounded analytical approach, I developed a typology and explored common characteristics and trends across environmental epiphany types. Experiences of epiphanies may have important ramifications for the manner in which people develop attitudes regarding land management issues. The study of environmental epiphanies can inform basic theory regarding conservation psychology, environmental education, and human-nature interactions.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Merrick, Melinda"],"institution":"University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign","degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Natural Resrouces and Environmental Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Joanne Vining"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-09-25T21:00:39Z","date_published":"2015-09-25T21:00:39Z","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:26:20Z","subjects":["Psychology, General"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["(MiAaPQ)AAI3337865"],"render_values":[{"text":"(MiAaPQ)AAI3337865","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/2142/83129","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Joanne Vining"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Merrick, Melinda"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2015-09-25T21:00:39Z","10000-01-01","2008"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["text"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Natural Resrouces and Environmental Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph.D."]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Psychology, General"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["eng"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/2142/83129","(MiAaPQ)AAI3337865"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["The experience of epiphanies accompanied by intense emotions is a common occurrence in the context of natural environments. 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The occurrence of epiphanies is usually reported as a very memorable episode that has significant influences on subsequent cognition and behavior. Despite the fact that epiphanies occur fairly regularly in people's accounts of their outdoor experiences, they have received little empirical attention. In this study, I conducted an extensive multidisciplinary review of empirical and theoretical literature in order to locate data and conceptual frameworks that may be useful in the understanding of environmental epiphanies. In the context of these frameworks, I conducted an empirical study in which I administered in-depth semi-structured interviews with people who had experienced environmental epiphanies. Using qualitative content analysis guided by a grounded analytical approach, I developed a typology and explored common characteristics and trends across environmental epiphany types. 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