Exploring the emotional pathways from cognition to action using the survey of environmental actions (SEA)

ABSTRACT

Objectives

This study examined a new cognitive model of willingness to take environmental action. We posited that one’s willingness to act is a feedback loop that starts with their values which lead to attitudes and then to one’s beliefs, which are then mediated by negative and learner emotions.

Method

Data were collected using the Survey of Environmental Actions (SEA), a new measure assessing the relationships among constructs.

Results

Results from a structural equation model (SEM) demonstrated good fit to the data, accounting for 44% of the total variance. Supplemental qualitative action plans also demonstrated that students who wrote an action plan, compared to those who did not, scored higher on their level of values, attitudes, beliefs, learner emotions, and willingness to take environmental action.

Conclusion

Implications suggest that a willingness to take environmental action is the result of a complex network of cognitive factors.

KEY POINTS

What is already known about this topic:

1. Understanding the psychological processes behind why people are willing to take environmental action is critical.

2. New psychological models are needed to identify why people are willing to take environmental action.

3. Emotions are a driver for willingness to take action.

What this paper adds:

1. Emotions played a key role for willingness to take environmental action.

2. Attitudes may be an entry point for increasing willingness to take environmental action.

3. This study suggests a relationship between values, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, and willingness to take environmental action.

KEYWORDS:

• Structural equation model
• environmental actions
• willingness to act
• emotions
• cognition

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).