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viduals all of the time (Dawkins 2006); thus, there are instances where individuals
may hold values that are seemingly in contradiction to their environment. All of
these four broad categories are comprised of more goal-specific values that address
specific domains that have a closer relationship with behavioural tendencies.
Despite values being quite stable, there is evidence that values are malleable,
especially as a result of life-changing events (Bardi and Schwarz 2013; Bardi and
Goodwin 2011; Bardi et al. 2009; Maio et al. 2009; Rokeach 1968), and all individuals have all values to a certain degree (Schwartz 2012). Individuals form their
specific value orientations through choosing what is most adaptive in their present
environment and what maximises their fitness (Bardi and Schwartz 2013; Bereczkei
et al. 2010; Bardi et al. 2009). When a certain pattern of values is formed, individuals use this framework to understand and interact with unfamiliar environments and
situations, all the while adjusting their values accordingly. In other words, individuals’ existing value orientations and the environmental stimuli they encounter function reciprocally, one affecting the other and vice versa. In this sense, values as a
framework for interacting with the external environment have the potential to
address all relevant areas of Environmental Citizenship.
Given that the concept of Environmental Citizenship encompasses not only proenvironmental actions but also the beliefs and the motivation or mindset that lead to
those actions, activating relevant pro-environmental values can lead to positive
changes in all aspects of Environmental Citizenship since values are goal specific
and not behaviour specific (Steg et al. 2014a, b), i.e. one’s goal can be to save the
environment, and this acts as an heuristics in acquiring new beliefs and acting in
novel situations in a way that is congruent with this goal (Bardi and Schwarz 2013).
There is therefore the potential for a simple behavioural spillover (when change in
one’s behaviour leads to changes in other behaviours) (Thøgersen 2012), where
moral frameworks develop in order to minimise the cognitive load in making behavioural decisions, and also for holistic attitudinal shifts towards more sustainable
lifestyles.
6.2.1 The Value Basis of Environmental Citizenship
In the broadest sense, values can be categorised into groups that reflect the dominating attitudes that drive one’s behaviour and form one’s worldview (Kaltenborn and
Bjerke 2002; Kortenkamp and Moore 2001; Thompson and Barton 1994; Dunlap
and Van Liere 1978). In light of the contemporary environmental issues, three broad
views can be identified: anthropocentrism, ecocentrism and technocentrism.
Anthropocentricists have in general a self-oriented view of the world and see it as
something that belongs to them and others. However, through the increased understanding of human-nature relationships and through the realisation of contemporary
environmental issues, a more environmentally oriented outlook has emerged, where
humans are viewed as a part of the environment while taking environmental wellbeing as the ultimate goal. The aforementioned view that emphasises environmental
A. Balundė et al.
viduals all of the time (Dawkins 2006); thus, there are instances where individuals
may hold values that are seemingly in contradiction to their environment. All of
these four broad categories are comprised of more goal-specific values that address
specific domains that have a closer relationship with behavioural tendencies.
Despite values being quite stable, there is evidence that values are malleable,
especially as a result of life-changing events (Bardi and Schwarz 2013; Bardi and
Goodwin 2011; Bardi et al. 2009; Maio et al. 2009; Rokeach 1968), and all individuals have all values to a certain degree (Schwartz 2012). Individuals form their
specific value orientations through choosing what is most adaptive in their present
environment and what maximises their fitness (Bardi and Schwartz 2013; Bereczkei
et al. 2010; Bardi et al. 2009). When a certain pattern of values is formed, individuals use this framework to understand and interact with unfamiliar environments and
situations, all the while adjusting their values accordingly. In other words, individuals’ existing value orientations and the environmental stimuli they encounter function reciprocally, one affecting the other and vice versa. In this sense, values as a
framework for interacting with the external environment have the potential to
address all relevant areas of Environmental Citizenship.
Given that the concept of Environmental Citizenship encompasses not only proenvironmental actions but also the beliefs and the motivation or mindset that lead to
those actions, activating relevant pro-environmental values can lead to positive
changes in all aspects of Environmental Citizenship since values are goal specific
and not behaviour specific (Steg et al. 2014a, b), i.e. one’s goal can be to save the
environment, and this acts as an heuristics in acquiring new beliefs and acting in
novel situations in a way that is congruent with this goal (Bardi and Schwarz 2013).
There is therefore the potential for a simple behavioural spillover (when change in
one’s behaviour leads to changes in other behaviours) (Thøgersen 2012), where
moral frameworks develop in order to minimise the cognitive load in making behavioural decisions, and also for holistic attitudinal shifts towards more sustainable
lifestyles.
6.2.1 The Value Basis of Environmental Citizenship
In the broadest sense, values can be categorised into groups that reflect the dominating attitudes that drive one’s behaviour and form one’s worldview (Kaltenborn and
Bjerke 2002; Kortenkamp and Moore 2001; Thompson and Barton 1994; Dunlap
and Van Liere 1978). In light of the contemporary environmental issues, three broad
views can be identified: anthropocentrism, ecocentrism and technocentrism.
Anthropocentricists have in general a self-oriented view of the world and see it as
something that belongs to them and others. However, through the increased understanding of human-nature relationships and through the realisation of contemporary
environmental issues, a more environmentally oriented outlook has emerged, where
humans are viewed as a part of the environment while taking environmental wellbeing as the ultimate goal. The aforementioned view that emphasises environmental
A. Balundė et al.