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Biospheric values can be regarded as a subset of altruistic values or as a very
closely related construct that results in actions that lead to environmentally favourable outcomes (De Groot and Steg 2009; Stern 2000). Some research, however, has
provided compelling evidence for interpreting biospheric values as a separate construct on their own since they provide unique variance in explaining proenvironmental behaviours (De Groot and Steg 2007). As a matter of fact, biospheric
values are the best predictor of pro-environmental actions out of all proposed values
that might relate to it; thus, they are often put at the forefront at pro-environmental
behaviour research and often have a prominent role in predictive models (e.g.
Values-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory hedonic, Stern 2000; Stern et al. 1999; ValuesIdentity- Personal (VIP) norm model, Van der Werff and Steg 2016).
Individuals can hold varying patterns of values and, therefore, there is a multitude of ways of constructing a strategy for behaviour (Bardi and Schwartz 2013;
Lindenberg and Steg 2013). It seems reasonable that in order to promote
Environmental Citizenship, one should aim for a specific pattern of values, where
altruistic and biospheric values work in tandem to create a socially engaged and
environmentally conscious individual (Fig. 6.1). As mentioned earlier, value change
is possible only under specific conditions, e.g. during extreme changes in one’s life,
when it is required to adapt to new circumstances. Therefore, value change requires
systematic efforts. The desirable pattern of values should be constantly and consistently reinforced, either through social persuasion or through infrastructural solutions, since any one-time intervention towards values is likely to be short-lived
(Bardi and Goodwin 2011). To put it simply, the context of an individual needs to
be consistently reinforced and even requires upholding certain values in order to
Fig. 6.1 Conceptual model of interaction of individual value patterns with the environment. The
environment determines the value pattern that is most likely to emerge automatically
A. Balundė et al.
Biospheric values can be regarded as a subset of altruistic values or as a very
closely related construct that results in actions that lead to environmentally favourable outcomes (De Groot and Steg 2009; Stern 2000). Some research, however, has
provided compelling evidence for interpreting biospheric values as a separate construct on their own since they provide unique variance in explaining proenvironmental behaviours (De Groot and Steg 2007). As a matter of fact, biospheric
values are the best predictor of pro-environmental actions out of all proposed values
that might relate to it; thus, they are often put at the forefront at pro-environmental
behaviour research and often have a prominent role in predictive models (e.g.
Values-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory hedonic, Stern 2000; Stern et al. 1999; ValuesIdentity- Personal (VIP) norm model, Van der Werff and Steg 2016).
Individuals can hold varying patterns of values and, therefore, there is a multitude of ways of constructing a strategy for behaviour (Bardi and Schwartz 2013;
Lindenberg and Steg 2013). It seems reasonable that in order to promote
Environmental Citizenship, one should aim for a specific pattern of values, where
altruistic and biospheric values work in tandem to create a socially engaged and
environmentally conscious individual (Fig. 6.1). As mentioned earlier, value change
is possible only under specific conditions, e.g. during extreme changes in one’s life,
when it is required to adapt to new circumstances. Therefore, value change requires
systematic efforts. The desirable pattern of values should be constantly and consistently reinforced, either through social persuasion or through infrastructural solutions, since any one-time intervention towards values is likely to be short-lived
(Bardi and Goodwin 2011). To put it simply, the context of an individual needs to
be consistently reinforced and even requires upholding certain values in order to
Fig. 6.1 Conceptual model of interaction of individual value patterns with the environment. The
environment determines the value pattern that is most likely to emerge automatically
A. Balundė et al.