On the relationship between hunters and pro-environmental intent

ABSTRACT

Unprecedented climate change and ecosystem degradation require immediate action at individual and societal levels. It has been suggested that hunting, as a nature-based activity, can contribute to pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. However, social psychological mechanisms driving hunter engagement in pro-environmental behavior are less understood. We used a sample consisted of hunter and non-hunter students from a large southern U.S. university (n = 1,594) to investigate factors associated with intentions to engage in pro-environmental actions. Our results suggested that hunters generally express less pro-environmental intention than do non-hunters. Structural equation modeling showed that hunters’ domination value orientation may attenuate their pro-environmental self-identity as the main predictor of pro-environmental intention. Our findings also highlighted the role of connection with nature in fostering pro-environmental behavior. We discuss the theoretical implications of these findings and possible pathways to promote pro-environmental behavior among hunters.

KEYWORDS:

• Pro-environmental behavior
• environmental self-identity
• hunters
• connectedness with nature
• wildlife value orientations

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Lincoln Larson at North Carolina State University for the overall project funding and contribution to data collection design.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partially supported by the USFWS under Grant # F19AP00094; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [F19AP00094];