Leiden University Student Repository

Casalena, Francesca (2024)

Understanding the Role of Empathy Components in Environmental Behaviors and Attitudes: A Study on Young Adults in the Netherlands

Bachelor thesis | Psychologie (BSc)

Environmental degradation is a pressing global issue largely attributed to human activity. Empathy has been shown to influence pro-environmental behaviors, prompting studies to explore its relationship with environmental attitudes and behaviors. To account for individual differences in empathy, this study investigates how different components of empathy influence environmental behaviors and attitudes among young adults in the Netherlands. Self-report questionnaires were completed by 216 participants (aged 17 to 26 years old). Correlational analyses revealed significant positive associations between environmental behaviors and total empathy, as well as with prosocial and affective empathy. In contrast, environmental attitudes were not associated with total empathy but were significantly positively correlated with cognitive empathy. Aligned with the goal of promoting sustainable behaviors, the findings suggest that focusing on prosocial and affective empathy could encourage short-term...Show moreEnvironmental degradation is a pressing global issue largely attributed to human activity. Empathy has been shown to influence pro-environmental behaviors, prompting studies to explore its relationship with environmental attitudes and behaviors. To account for individual differences in empathy, this study investigates how different components of empathy influence environmental behaviors and attitudes among young adults in the Netherlands. Self-report questionnaires were completed by 216 participants (aged 17 to 26 years old). Correlational analyses revealed significant positive associations between environmental behaviors and total empathy, as well as with prosocial and affective empathy. In contrast, environmental attitudes were not associated with total empathy but were significantly positively correlated with cognitive empathy. Aligned with the goal of promoting sustainable behaviors, the findings suggest that focusing on prosocial and affective empathy could encourage short-term environmental actions, such as donations. Conversely, cognitive empathy may foster environmental attitudes that lead to long-term sustainable behaviors in everyday life. Understanding these findings is crucial for designing effective interventions and educational programs aimed at promoting environmental sustainability. Future research should explore these relationships in larger and more diverse samples to validate these findings.Show less

Author

Casalena, Francesca

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Supervisors

Simpson-Kent, I.L.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en