Clarifying the relationship between social connectedness and connectedness to nature

Abstract

Recent attention has been given to the construct of connectedness to nature and its role in fostering both pro-environmental behavior and well-being. Connectedness to nature shares conceptual similarities with social connectedness: both involve a cognitive schema of the self and other as overlapping, positive emotions towards the other and a commitment to protect the other. However, little research has systematically investigated the relationship between connectedness to nature and social connectedness. A series of eight studies were conceived with the following aims: 1) to clarify inconsistent correlations reported in the literature between connectedness to nature and social connectedness; 2) to test the potential of exposure to beautiful nature to reduce the effects of social exclusion; 3) to test the effects of social exclusion on connectedness to nature, intentions to engage pro-environmental behaviors and willingness to sacrifice for the environment and 4) to test the effects of moral elevation on connectedness to nature, intentions to engage in pro-environmental behaviors and willingness to sacrifice for the environment. Overall, although there was some mixed evidence, the studies within this thesis provide preliminary evidence for a positive causal effect of feelings of social connectedness on connectedness to nature: increasing or decreasing feelings of social connectedness appears to result in corresponding changes in people’s affective bond with nature, at least in the short term.