We will admit that, at all times, human beings are positioning themselves about the things around them to define their actions, their choices. Based on this observation, some researchers in psychology have proposed the concept of “attitude”. This concept is defined by “Gordon Allport” as being “a mental and neuropsychological state of preparation for action, organized as a result of the experience and which concerns a dynamic influence on the behavior of the individual about all of the objects and all related situations ”(Allport, 1935). Following the success of this idea, the « tripartite model » was developed in 1960 to propose 3 dimensions of attitudes. A first would be cognitive, so it concerns what affects knowledge and beliefs about the object. A second is affective and rather concerns the emotional valence about it, to be clear, we like, or not, this or that object. The last, conative, refers to the behaviors surrounding the object (Rosenberg & Hovland, 1960). Thus, one can have information about the environment, appreciate it or not and perform certain behaviors resulting from this appreciation towards it. « Attitude », therefore, seems to be a determining concept for the adoption of certain behaviors and is used in behavioral prediction models. One example is the “Theory of Planned Behavior” in which attitude is one of the three prerequisites alongside the “subjective norm” and “perceived behavioral control” to the achievement of behaviors (Azjen, 1991).
It is on this idea of « attitude » that some authors base themselves to define the approach of individuals to nature. Therefore, we would develop a more or less positive attitude towards the object “nature” (Kaiser & al, 2011), and we would consequently apply behaviors in agreement with this attitude. On the theoretical basis of attitudes, a measurement scale called “New environmental paradigm” was developed in the 1970s to measure these attitudes towards nature (Dunlap & Liere, 1978). This measurement scale seems to be sensitive, gives interesting results and is still very used today.
Other concepts have since emerged on other theoretical bases in order to understand the relationship of human beings to nature. For example, we can also be interested by “Connection to nature” concept, which explore the individual attachment to nature, or even to the “Myths of nature” focusing more on the cultural dimension of the gaze on nature.
Allport, GW (1935). Attitudes. In A Handbook of Social Psychology (p. 798-844). Worcester, MA, US: Clark University Press.
Dunlap, R. E., & Van Liere, K. D. (1978). The “new environmental paradigm”. The journal of environmental education, 9(4), 10-19.
Kaiser, F. G., Hartig, T., Brügger, A., & Duvier, C. (2011). Environmental Protection and Nature as Distinct Attitudinal Objects: An Application of the Campbell Paradigm. Environment and Behavior, 45(3), 369-398. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916511422444