The Power of Connection: Sustainable Lifestyles and Sense of Place

Abstract

Abstract

“Sense of place” refers to a psychological construct that involves attributing a geographical location with meaning, values, and a sense of “connection.” Previous research has shown that having a sense of place, particularly in relation to natural environments, can motivate people to engage in actions for sustainability but that such a sense of place is less likely to occur in urban environments. This study focuses on what motivates people living in the city of Melbourne to live an environmentally sustainable lifestyle, specifically investigating the role of “sense of place.” Nineteen in-depth interviews were conducted with residents engaged in three types of sustainability activism: personal (e.g., energy and water saving, shopping at farmers' markets); group (e.g., community gardens, sharing neighborhood goods); and political (e.g., lobbying and organizing for structural change). Although participants did report experiencing a “sense of place” in Melbourne, it was their broader feelings of connection with nature and the planet as a whole; their awareness of the human-made and cultural/political environment; and their personal health, relationships, and community, not necessarily connected to a geographical location within Melbourne, which they reported motivate them to take action. Slight differences in motivating factors were found between the different types of activist, although connection with nature was consistent across all groups. It appears that in urban settings, local sense of place could act as an “enabler” and “reinforcer” of action, providing a location in which to act, and people to act with, rather than as a motivating factor per se. It also provides psychological and social benefits.