The handbook of sustainability literacy: skills for a changing world

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Notes

1. Crompton (2010, 10) summarises that there is a distinction between two broad classes of values: intrinsic and extrinsic values. Intrinsic values are described as self-transcendent values. They include values placed on a sense of community, affiliation to friends and family and self-development. In contrast, extrinsic values include self-enhancing values, values that are contingent upon the perceptions of others – they relate to envy of ‘higher’ social strata, admiration of material wealth or power. He continues: ‘Intrinsic values are associated with concern about bigger-than-self problems, and with corresponding behaviours to help address these problems. Extrinsic values, on the other hand, are associated with lower levels of concern about bigger-than-self problems, and lower motivation to adopt behaviours in line with such concern’.