Journal Facts

Journal
Journal of Environmental Systems
ISSN
0047-2433 (print) 1541-3802 (electronic)
Volume
20
Issue
3
Date
1/1/1990

Article Facts

Title
Some Psychological Aspects of Living Lightly: Desired Lifestyle Patterns and Conservation Behavior
DOI
10.2190/030Q-Q4KE-7YFB-4Q0F
Author
Raymond de Young
Pages
215-227
Online Date
05/09/2002

Article Links

Some Psychological Aspects of Living Lightly: Desired Lifestyle Patterns and Conservation Behavior

Raymond de Young

DOI: 10.2190/030Q-Q4KE-7YFB-4Q0F

Abstract

It has been argued that an environmentally compatible lifestyle is a necessary if somewhat onerous component of a sustainable society. This perception might lead one to demand compensation for adopting such a lifestyle. An alternative perspective suggests such a lifestyle contains its own compensation. This study explores whether a conservation-oriented lifestyle may be intrinsically satisfying. Data from respondents to a mail-back questionnaire were explored using factor analysis and analysis of variance. Several categories of items emerged, focusing on ecology, technology, self-reliance and acceptance-of-wastefulness. The respondents most preferred an ecologically focused lifestyle. This article also explores the relationships between these desired patterns and reported conservation behavior and intrinsic satisfactions.

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