People’s (un)concern about the environment: a discussion in light of Brazilian and American national cultures
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18568/internext.795Keywords:
Environmental management, Environmental sustainability, Cross-cultural differences, Cross-cultural study, Social studyAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the possible influence of national cultures on citizens' environmental (un)concerns by comparison American and Brazilian cultures. Method: Data on environmental concerns from 2,596 Americans and 1,762 Brazilians were analyzed using statistical correlation and mean comparison tests. Main results: The three variables used in this study to measure respondents’ environmental values showed statistically significant differences between the two countries. Among them, two indicated that Brazilians are more environmentally engaged than Americans. Relevance / Originality: This research suggests specific cultural dimensions potentially associated with environmental issues and highlights the importance of studying environmental values and their specificities across countries so that environmental management policies can be more contextualized, assertive, and compatible with citizens' cultural characteristics in each nation. Theoretical / Methodological Contributions: Although the literature substantially explores environmental values, ecological management, and sustainability, these themes are not as frequently examined from a cross-cultural perspective —that is, through an approach considering possible influences of national culture on individual values, attitudes, and behaviors. The present investigation invites future studies predicting pro-environmental behaviors to include cultural variables among other predictors. In practical terms, organizations, public policies, and government programs concerning environmental management are encouraged to consider national cultural characteristics that may deeply act as drivers or obstacles to pro-environmental values, attitudes, and behaviors.
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