Experiences with nature, emotional ties to nature, and ecological responsibility as determinants of nature protective behavior

Corresponding to earlier results, ecologically relevant decisions are based on responsibility related beliefs and emotions. It was examined if, besides these judgments, interest in nature, nature related experiences along with emotional ties with nature (each measured retrospectively as well as for the actual life phase) also explain decisions for the protection of, respectively, burden to natural resources, the countryside, as well as flora and fauna. The newly introduced constructs were examined as to whether they qualified additionally to predict attributions of responsibility for the protection of nature and the rights to make full use of its opportunities as intermediate criteria. A questionnaire study was conducted (N = 281) in which the reliability and validity of all newly constructed scales were carefully examined. Regression analyses confirm that decisions with relevance for nature are motivated by attributions of responsibility. In addition, the newly introduced constructs of interest in nature and emotional ties with nature play a decisive role. These variables, together with a general ecological awareness and with perceived control beliefs for the protection of nature are strong predictors of the ecological attributions of responsibility and the rights to make full use of nature's opportunities. The results stimulate expansions of models of environmentally protective behavior by including nature related experiences, interests, and emotional ties. Moreover, these results support nature-educational approaches which next to promoting ecological awareness also have the goal of imparting positive experiences with nature.