Examining the Role of Psychological Elements on Farmers’ Environmental Behaviors in Damavand and Firoozkooh Provinces, Iran
Subject Areas : Environmental managment
1 - Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Technologies, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. *(Corresponding Author)
Keywords: Environmental Behavior, Environmental Psychology, Attitude, Self-Concept.,
Abstract :
Background and Objective: The subject matter of the present research, ‘Examining the Role of Psychological Elements on Farmers’ Environmental Behaviors in Damavand and Firoozkooh Provinces,’ belongs to psychological studies with emphasize on environment. The present research’ main goal is to review the effects of psychological variables - including attitude and self-concept - on farmers’ environmental behaviors in these provinces.
Material and Methodology: This is a descriptive-survey research. Its statistical population, 372 individuals, include farmers and gardeners in Damavand and Firoozkooh provinces sampled by simple random sampling with proportional assignment and using Cochran formula. Pearson correlation coefficients, multivariate regression statistic and LIZREl software estimates were used in the present research.
Findings: The research’s results showed that self-concept and environmental attitude were the main elements of psychological structure effective on environmental behaviors, in aspects of water management, soil management and integrated pest management. At the end, one could say that the independent variables powers used in explaining dependent variable variance, i.e. behavioral behavior, was %31.
Discussion and Conclusion: The research’s results confirmed that psychology may help us in reforming environmental attitudes and self-concepts in order to turn farmers’ and gardeners’ concerns regarding future in these provinces to make a sustainable use of water, soil, air, plants and wild life resources and preserve coming generations’ shares and rights.
1. Falahati, H. (2015). A looking into Environmental Psychology. Life Style Survey, 8, 96-98. (In Persian)
2. Bezold, C.P., Banay, R.F., Coull, B.A., Hart, J.E., James, P., Kubzansky, L.D, et al. (2018). The association between natural environments and depressive symptoms in adolescents living in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health, 62(4), 488-495.
3. Farmani, M., Ghafari, M., Zandi Nasab, M. (2020). Studying the Effects of Environmental Experience and Information on the Attitudes and Behaviors of Environmentally Informed Consumers. Environmental Science and Technology, 22(11), 31-44. (In Persian)
4. Mohammadzadeh, S.H., Soleimanpoor Omarn, M. (2020). Reviewing Citizenship Education Effectiveness on Taking Social Responsibility, Environmental Skills and Social Skills. Environmental Sciences and Technology, 22(11), 75-90. (In Persian)
5. Poortinga, W., Steg, L., Vlek, C. (2004). Values, environmental concern and environmental behavior: A study into household energy use. Environment and Behavior, 36(1), 70-93.
6. Stern, P. (2000). Toward a Coherent theory of environmentally significant behavior. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 407-424.
7. Navah, A.R., Forootan Kia, SH., Porterkarooni, M. (2011). Studying the Relationships between Citizens’ Religiousness and Environmental Values and Behaviors (A Case Study: Ahvaz City). Urban Sociological Studies (Urban Studies), 1(1), 77-97. (In Persian)
8. Collado, S., Staats, H., & Sancho, P. (2019). Normative influences on adolescents’ selfreported pro-environmental behaviors: The role of parents and friends. Environment and Behavior, 51(3), 288-314.
9. Edenhofer, O., Pichs-Madruga, R., Sokona, Y., Farahani, E., Kadner, S., Seyboth, Eickemeier, P. (2014). IPCC, 2014: Summary for policymakers. Cambridge, UK: Columbia University Press. Retrieved from: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets.
10. Byerly, H., Balmford, A., Ferraro, P.J., Hammond Wagner, C., Palchak, E., Polasky, S., Fisher, B. (2018). Nudging pro‐environmental behavior: Evidence and opportunities. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 16(3), 159-168.
11. Van Dijk, W.F., Lokhorst, A.M., Berendse, F., de Snoo, G.R. (2015). Collective Agri-environment schemes: How can regional environmental cooperatives enhance farmers’ intentions for Agri-environment schemes? Land Use Policy, 42, 759-766.
12. Ghorbani Piralidehi, F., Ghorbani Piralidehi, A. (2020). The Factors Effective on Environmentalist Behaviors of Aquaculture Farmers at Gilan Province. Environmental Sciences, 18(1), 17-32. (In Persian)
13. Rommel, J., Buttmann, V., Liebig, G., Schönwetter, S., Svart-Gröger, V. (2015). Motivation crowding theory and pro-environmental behavior: Experimental evidence. Economics Letters, 129: 42-44.
14. Howley, P., Buckley, C., Donoghue, C.O., Ryan, M. (2015). Explaining the economic ‘irrationality ‘of farmers' land use behavior: The role of productivity attitudes and non-pecuniary benefits. Ecological Economics, 109, 186-193.
15. Arcury, T.A. (1990). Environmental attitude and environmental knowledge. Human Organization, 94(4), 300-304.
16. Duerden, M.D., Witt, P.A. (2010). The impact of direct and indirect experiences on the development of environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(4), 379-392.
17. Blaikie, N. (2005). Designing Social Research. Translated by Chavoshian, H. Tehran: Ney Publications. (In Persian)
18. Abdollahi, A.S. (2004). Reviewing Consciousness, Attitude and Isfahan Citizens’ Environmental Behavior. MA Thesis Advised by Dr.Mojtaba Shahnooshi, Dehaghan, Isfahan: Islamic Azad University. (In Persian)
19. Rezvani, N. (2005). Studying the Relationships between Environmental Knowledge and Attitudes and Environmental Protective Behaviors. Tehran: Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Shahid Beheshti. (In Persian)
20. Karimi, L. (2010). Studying Sociological Factors Effective on Environmental Behavior with an Emphasize on Water Consumption Behavior. Unpublished MA Thesis, Parand, Tehran: University of Payam-e Noor. (In Persian)
21. Salehi, S. (2010). A New Attitude towards Environment and Energy Consumption. Iranian Society of Studies and Communications Quarterly, 6(20), 197-216. (In Persian)
22. Ziapoor, A., Kianipoor, N., Nikbakht M.R. (2012). Environmental Social Analysis and the Individuals Behavior towards It in Rural and Urban Areas in Kermanshah Province. Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 1(2), 55-67. (In Persian)
23. Kalantari, K.H., Shabanali Fami, H., Asadi, A., Movahed Mohamadi, H. (2007). Investigating factors affecting Environmental Behavior of Urban Residents: A case study in Tehran city-Iran. American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3(2), 67-74.
24. Takahashi, B., Selfa, T. (2014). Predictors of pro-environmental behavior in rural American communities. Environment and Behavior, 47(8), 856-876.
25. Kil, N., Holland, S.M., Stein, T.V. (2014). Structural relationships between environmental attitudes, recreation motivations and environmentally responsible behaviors. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 7, 16-25.
26. Gray, H.P. (1970). International Travel-International Trade. Lexington: Heath Lexington Books.
27. Stern P.C., Dietz, T., Guagnano, G.A. (1995). The New Ecological Paradigm in Social-Psychological Contet. Environment and Behavior, 27(6), 723-743.
28. Moisander, J., Pesonen, S. (2002). Narratives of sustainable ways of living: Constructing the self and the other as a green consumer. Management Decision, 40, 329-342.
29. Mokhtari Malekabadi, R., Abdollahi, A.S., Sadeghi, H.R. (2014). Urban Environmental Behaviors Analysis and Recognition (A Case Study: Isfahan City, 1391). Urban Research and Planning, 5(18): 1-18. (In Persian)
30. Atkinson, R., Hillgaurd, E.R. (2009). Introduction to Psychology. Translated by Barahani, MN. Tehran: Roshd Publications. (In Persian)
31. Witherspoon, J. et al. (1995). Control and production of toxic air emissions by publicly owned treatment works odor control equipment, Water Environment Research Foundation.
32. Bohner, G., Wanke, M. (2010). Attitudes and Attitude Change. Translated by Tahoorian, J. Tehran: Roshd Publications. (In Persian)
33. Taghizadeh, M.E. (2000). Restless Adolescence Wind. Isfahan: Yekta Publications. (In Persian)
34. Hogan, J.A. (2015). A framework for the study of behavior. Behavioural Processes, 117, 105-113.
35. Reese, E.P., Howard, J., Reese, T.W. (1978). Human operant behavior: Analysis and application. New York: WCB/Mc Graw-Hill Publications.
36. Seif, A.A. (2015). Behavioral Change and Behavioral Therapy: Theories and Methods. Tehran: Dowran Publications. (In Persian)
37. Hoogendoorn, B., Guerra, D., van der Zwan, P. (2015). What drives environmental practices of SMEs? Small Business Economics, 44(4), 759-781.
38. Ajzen, I. (1995). Attitudes, Personality and Behavior. Translated by Najafi Zand, J. Tehran: Dana Publications. (In Persian)
39. Yazdanpanah, M., Feyzabad, F.R., Forouzani, M., Mohammadzadeh, S., Burton, R.J. (2015). Predicting farmers’ water conservation goals and behavior in Iran: A test of social cognitive theory. Land Use Policy, 47, 401-407. (In Persian)
40. Azizi Khalkhili, T., Bakhshi Jahromi, A., Bijani, M. (2011). Farmers’ Soil Protective Behaviors: The Role of Communication and Information Media. Iranian Agriculture Promotion and Education, 7(2): 51-61. (In Persian)
41. Hassanpoor, S., Agahi, H., Rostami, F. (2015). Examining the challenges of using integrated pest management technology with the school approach in the field among gardeners (case study: Paveh city). Extension Research and Agricultural Education, 8(3), 45-57. (In Persian)