This study operationalized a new model of environmental behavior to test its utility in predicting the relatively difficult behavior of getting people out of their cars. The Reasonable Person Model of environmentally responsible behavior hypothesizes that a mix of self-interest, altruism, personal norms, desirable choices, and participatory problem solving are the best predictors of behavior. In a random sample telephone survey of drivers (N = 344) along the Wasatch Front, all independent variables were significantly correlated to behavior with the exception of one personal control measure. A multiple regression model found that 52 percent of the variance in environmentally responsible behavior was predicted by the independent variables (R2= .52, p < .001). However, none of the measures of personal control contributed significantly to the model.
Arcury, T. A., and E. H. Christianson. 1990. Environmental worldview in response to environmental problems: Kentucky 1984 and 1988 compared. Environment and Behavior22:387-407.
2.
Armitage, C. J., and M. Conner. 1999. Distinguishing perceptions of control from self-efficacy: Predicting consumption of a low-fat diet using the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology29 (1): 72-90.
3.
Baldassare, M., and C. Katz. 1992. The personal threat of environmental problems as predictor of environmental practices. Environment and Behavior24 (5): 602-616.
4.
Chan, K.1998. Mass communication and pro-environmental behavior: Waste recycling in Hong Kong. Journal of Environmental Management52:317-325.
5.
Cheung, S. F., D. K. -S. Chan, and Z. S. -Y. Wong. 1999. Reexamining the theory of planned behavior in understanding wastepaper recycling. Environment and Behavior31 (5): 587-612.
6.
Conner, M., R. Warren, and S. Close. 1999. Alcohol consumption and the theory of planned behavior: An examination of the cognitive mediation of past behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology29 (8): 1676-1704.
7.
Corbett, J. B.2002. Motivations to participate in riparian improvement programs: Applying the theory of planned behavior. Science Communication23 (3): 243-263.
8.
Corbett, J. B., and A. R. Kendall. 1999. Evaluating service learning in the communication discipline. Journalism and Mass Communication Educator53 (1): 65-75.
9.
De Young, R.2000. Expanding and evaluating motives for environmentally responsible behavior. Journal of Social Issues56 (3): 509-526.
10.
Eagly, A., and S. Chaiken. 1993. The psychology of attitudes. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace.
11.
Fishbein, M.1993. Introduction. In The theory of reasoned action: Its application to AIDS-preventive behaviour, edited by D. J. Terry, C. Gallois, and M. McCamish, xv-xxv. Oxford, UK: Pergamon.
12.
Fishbein, M., and I. Ajzen. 1975. Belief, attitude, intention and behaviour: An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
13.
Fox-Cardamone, L., S. Hinkle, and M. Hogue. 2000. The correlates of antinuclear activism: Attitudes, subjective norms, and efficacy. Journal of Applied Social Psychology30(3):484-498.
14.
Fransson, N., and T. Garling. 1999. Environmental concerns: Conceptual definitions, measurement methods, and research findings. Journal of Environmental Psychology19:369-382.
15.
Frey, B. S.1989. Ipsative and objective limits to human behavior. Journal of Behavioral Economics17:229-248.
16.
Gill, J. D., L. A. Crosby, and J. R. Taylor. 1986. Ecological concern, attitudes, and social norms in voting behavior. Public Opinion Quarterly50:537-554.
17.
Griffin, R. J., S. Dunwoody, and K. Neuwirth. 1999. Proposed model of the relationship of risk, information seeking and processing to the development of preventive behaviors. Environmental Research80:230-245.
18.
Guagnano, G. A., P. C. Stern, and T. Dietz. 1995. Influences on attitude-behavior relationships:A natural experiment with curbside recycling. Environment and Behavior27 (5): 699-718.
19.
Hines, J. M., H. R. Hungerford, and A. N. Tomera. 1986. Analysis and synthesis of research on responsible environmental behavior: A meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Education18:1-8.
20.
Howell, S. E., and S. B. Laska. 1992. The changing face of the environmental coalition: A research note. Environment and Behavior24:134-144.
21.
Kaplan, S.2000. Human nature and environmentally responsible behavior. Journal of Social Issues56 (3): 491-508.
22.
Kaplan, S., and R. Kaplan. 1989. The visual environment: Public participation in design and planning. Journal of Social Issues45:59-86.
23.
Lam, S. -P.1999. Predicting intentions to conserve water from the theory of planned behavior, perceived moral obligation, and perceived water right. Journal of Applied Social Psychology29 (5): 1058-1071.
24.
Levin, G.1993. Too green for their own good. Advertising Age64:29.
25.
Low, B. S., and J. T. Heinen. 1993. Population, resources and environment: Implications of human behavioral ecology for conservation. Population and Environment15:7-41.
26.
Lynne, G. D., C. F. Casey, A. Hodges, and M. Rahmani. 1995. Conservation technology adoption decisions and the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Economic Psychology16:581-598.
27.
Mansbridge, J. J.1990. On the relation of altruism and self-interest. In Beyond self-interest, edited by J. J. Mansbridge, 133-143. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
28.
Merchant, C.1992. Radical ecology: The search for a livable world. New York: Routledge.
29.
Mertig, A. G., and R. E. Dunlap. 2001. Environmentalism, new social movements, and the new class: A cross-national investigation. Rural Sociology66:113-136.
30.
Morrison, D. E., and R. E. Dunlap. 1986. Environmentalism and elitism: A conceptual and empirical analysis. Environmental Management10 (5): 581-589.
31.
Nordlund, A. M., and J. Garvill. 2002. Value structures behind pro-environmental behavior. Environment and Behavior34 (6): 740-756.
32.
Rokeach, M.1968. Beliefs, attitudes, and values: A theory of organization and change. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
33.
Schultz, P. W., and L. Zelezny. 1999. Values as predictors of environmental attitudes: Evidence for consistency across 14 countries. Journal of Environmental Psychology19:255-265.
34.
Schwartz, S. H.1977. Normative influences on altruism. In Advances in experimental social psychology, vol. 10, edited by L. Berkowitz, 221-279. New York: Academic.
35.
Scott, D., and F. K. Willits. 1994. Environmental attitudes and behaviors: A Pennsylvania survey. Environment and Behavior26 (2): 239-260.
36.
Sheeran, P., and S. Orbell. 2000. Using implementation intentions to increase attendance for cervical cancer screening. Health Psychology19 (3): 283-289.
37.
Smith, B. N., and M. F. Stasson. 2000. A comparison of health behavior constructs: Social psychology predictors of AIDS-preventive behavioral intentions. Journal of Applied Social Psychology30 (3): 443-462.
38.
Stern, P. C.2000. Toward a coherent theory of environmentally significant behavior. Journal of Social Issues56 (3): 407-424.
39.
Stern, P. C., and T. Dietz. 1994. The value basis of environmental concern. Journal of Social Issues50 (3): 65-84.
40.
Stern, P. C., T. Dietz, and J. S. Black. 1985-86. Support for environmental protection—The role of moral norms. Population and Environment8 (3-4): 204-222.
41.
Stern, P. C., T. Dietz, and L. Kalof. 1993. Value orientations, gender, and environmental concern. Environment and Behavior25:322-348.
42.
Stern, P. C., T. Dietz, L. Kalof, and G. A. Guagnano. 1995. Values, beliefs, and proenvironmental action: Attitude formation toward emergent attitude objects. Journal of Applied Social Psychology25:1611-1636.
43.
Tanner, C.1999. Constraints on environmental behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology19:145-157.
44.
Trumbo, C., and G. O’Keefe. 2000. Understanding environmentalism and information effects in water conservation behavior: A comparison of three communities sharing a watershed. Paper presented to the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August, Phoenix, AZ.
45.
Van Liere, K. D., and R. E. Dunlap. 1981. Environmental concern: Does it make a difference how it is measured?Environment and Behavior13:651-676.
46.
Zelezny, L. C., P. Chua, and C. Aldrich. 2000. Elaborating on gender differences in environmentalism. Journal of Social Issues56 (3): 443-457.
