CHAPTER SUMMARY

In this chapter I have reviewed empirical and theoretical research on psychosocial factors influencing behavioural responses to ecological crisis and the congruent enactment of pro- environmental values. I have positioned this work within a much broader field of research on human responses to ecological crisis. I have drawn on and integrated various domains and perspectives in creating this narrative.

Discussion of the key insights from this literature has focussed on the particular themes of: values, goals, needs, mindfulness and motivation; identity and the self; psychological threat; cognitive frames; and cultural worldviews. With each, I have explained what these insights mean for my study and how they inform my analysis. The psychological dimensions of ecological crisis discussed have been shown to be psychosocial processes: they involve psychological processes interacting with contextual forces to shape cognition and behaviour. These processes are embodied and situated, and tend to happen below the level of

Throughout, I have highlighted gaps in research on human responses to ecological crisis. I now summarise these gaps, present the research aims and questions that address these gaps, and demonstrate the contribution of my study to particular areas of knowledge.

2.8.1 Gaps in research

Firstly, individual environmental behaviour studies are often decontextualized, which is the conventional approach in psychology research (Clayton et al 2015b). Where they have been contextualised it has tended to focus on consumer behaviour and the private realm (Stern 2000; Stern 2011), whereas the workplace as a context for studying individual behaviour is less well researched (Stern 2000; Lo 2015). Indeed, a review in 2009 of literature on green behaviour found the workplace was almost entirely overlooked (Davis & Challenger 2009, cited in Plank 2011). The focus of research on environmental behaviour in organisations has been at organisational, institutional and global levels of research (Sharma & Starik 2002; Lüfts & Hahn 2014; Guthey, Whiteman & Elmes 2014; Lo 2015). Where there is research on individual behaviour, it is generally from the perspective of the organisation aiming to improve employee green behaviour (Lüfts & Hahn 2014; Ciocirlan 2016; Norton et al 2015) rather than from the perspective of the individual employee who is oriented to pro-

environmental values and is seeking to influence the organisation’s actions, which is how an individual can significantly affect the natural environment (Stern 2000). As Lorenzoni & Pidgeon (2006, cited in Plank 2011) state, understanding of human attitudes and behaviour in the workplace is necessary in order to help change behaviour away from environmentally harmful activities and towards environmental sustainability.

Secondly, the focus of research relating to human responses to ecological crisis has tended to be on what people think and how they behave and on interventions to change behaviour (Bartlett 2011; Wright, Nyberg & Grant 2012; Lertzman 2015; Spence, Pidgeon & Uzzell

2009). Underlying drivers of behavioural responses, the mostly unconscious processes of motivations, desires and impulses are less well researched (Bartlett 2011; Lertzman 2015; Norgaard 2006; Lo 2015; Kennedy, Whiteman & Williams 2015; Sharma & Starik 2002). There is little understanding of the role of emotions in influencing pro-environmental behaviour in organisations (Russell & Friedrich 2015).

Thirdly, much of the research on environmental behaviour is reductionist in that it only takes into account a single or small number of variables and tends not to be interdisciplinary. Few studies explore the interaction between multiple factors influencing behaviour and decision- making (IPCC 2014), including diverse psychological and social factors in particular contexts (Norgaard 2006; Uzzell & Räthzel 2009). The interaction between individual and

organisational levels remains under-researched (Kennedy, Whiteman & Williams 2015; Lo 2015; Russell & Friedrich 2015). There is a need for an interdisciplinary approach for researching the complexity of environmental behaviour (Stern 2000).

Fourthly, there is have been calls for more research using cognitive linguistics approaches to examine the “psychosocial origins of organizational texts, narratives and meanings, which lie beneath the subtext of social interaction” (Grant el al 2004 p24).

I address these gaps in my research in the following ways:

• Situating individuals in their work settings, specifically individuals oriented to pro- environmental values with formal role that involve influencing environmental policy, strategy and practice in the organisation. My multi-level analysis also situates individuals in the macro context of the dominant cultural worldview of the Western industrialised societies in which they, and their organisations, are embedded.

• Exploring underlying psychosocial drivers of behaviour, specifically in terms of factors affecting enactment of pro-environmental values

• Taking a transdisciplinary approach that integrates perspectives and theories from a wide range of disciplines including social psychology, ecopsychology, environmental philosophy, cognitive linguistics and ecolinguistics. This allows for multiple factors from different domains to be considered. Enquiring into the participants’ lived experience allows for study of the actual forces in play in their particular context. I also explore how factors interact with each other as dynamic processes.

• Using frames and metaphor analysis (a micro-discourse analysis method) in data analysis and interpretation

Bringing these points of focus together makes my study a highly original transdisciplinary and multidimensional piece of work. The table below shows how my approach to addressing these gaps is expressed as research questions.

Fig. 2.11 Relationship of research questions to gaps in research

Gaps in research Research Question

Studying individuals and their responses to ecological crisis in their work settings

What is the experience of sustainability professionals oriented to pro-environmental values of working to influence and improve pro-environmental practices in their organisations?

Underlying psychosocial drivers of

environmental behaviour What psychosocial factors can be identified that influence the participants’ enactment of pro- environmental values in their work?

Multiple factors and their

interaction How do these factors interact as process?

Individuals in formal sustainability roles seeking to improve the organisation’s environmental practices

What are the consequences/implications of the findings for individual effectiveness in improving organisational environmental practices?

Cognitive linguistics approach (addressed in methodology)

The premise is that by enquiring into the lived experience of research participants, data is generated that can be analysed for psychosocial factors influencing cognition and behaviour.

2.8.2 Research aims and questions

Informed by the literature, I have identified three key aims for my study. The table columns below show the relationship of the study aims, research questions and methodology. The methodology and the rationale are discussed in depth in the following chapters. The process of conducting the research from recruitment of participants to interpreting the findings is described in detail.

Fig. 2.12 Research aims, questions and methodology RESEARCH AIMS

Aim 1: To gain new insight into psychosocial factors affecting congruent enactment of pro-environmental values by individuals in their work to influence organisational practices

Aim 2: To generate knowledge and understanding that may be of practical use to

sustainability professionals and environmentalists

RESEARCH QUESTIONS