Private and civic actions as distinct types of individual engagement for transforming the exotic pet trade
Abstract In the pathway toward environmental sustainability, it is important that we understand how individuals can make a difference through diverse types of engagement. Theories suggest that transformative change toward a sustainable future requires individuals to engage in not only private action...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-10-01
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| Series: | People and Nature |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10517 |
| _version_ | 1797666360192401408 |
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| author | Rumi Naito Jiaying Zhao Robin Naidoo Kai M. A. Chan |
| author_facet | Rumi Naito Jiaying Zhao Robin Naidoo Kai M. A. Chan |
| author_sort | Rumi Naito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In the pathway toward environmental sustainability, it is important that we understand how individuals can make a difference through diverse types of engagement. Theories suggest that transformative change toward a sustainable future requires individuals to engage in not only private actions (e.g. household energy saving, recycling) but also social‐signalling and system‐changing civic actions (e.g. opinion sharing, voting, petition signing and protesting). Yet, past research on pro‐environmental behaviour has primarily focused on private actions, while overlooking individual contributions to facilitating widespread change through civic actions. We use the exotic pet trade as a focal case to understand how individuals may act to promote environmental sustainability through different patterns of engagement and what factors might explain these distinct patters of action. Results from an online survey about behavioural intentions in the United States (n = 527) revealed three types of individual action that could transform the exotic pet trade. Private actions clustered separately from civic actions. Within the category of civic actions, a distinction emerged between lower social‐commitment actions and higher social‐commitment actions, based on the perceived level of social engagement and personal efforts involved. We also found that each type of action was associated with unique factors, highlighting the importance of attitudes, perceived social norms, and relational values for variously promoting individual engagement among the U.S. public. Our findings suggest that these distinct types of action should be treated differently when designing future wildlife conservation campaigns and behaviour change interventions. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T19:58:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f070d9be8af4721bed2ca3fcae6efab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2575-8314 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T19:58:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | People and Nature |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f070d9be8af4721bed2ca3fcae6efab2023-10-04T14:41:37ZengWileyPeople and Nature2575-83142023-10-01551526153810.1002/pan3.10517Private and civic actions as distinct types of individual engagement for transforming the exotic pet tradeRumi Naito0Jiaying Zhao1Robin Naidoo2Kai M. A. Chan3Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability, University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia CanadaInstitute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability, University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia CanadaInstitute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability, University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia CanadaInstitute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability, University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia CanadaAbstract In the pathway toward environmental sustainability, it is important that we understand how individuals can make a difference through diverse types of engagement. Theories suggest that transformative change toward a sustainable future requires individuals to engage in not only private actions (e.g. household energy saving, recycling) but also social‐signalling and system‐changing civic actions (e.g. opinion sharing, voting, petition signing and protesting). Yet, past research on pro‐environmental behaviour has primarily focused on private actions, while overlooking individual contributions to facilitating widespread change through civic actions. We use the exotic pet trade as a focal case to understand how individuals may act to promote environmental sustainability through different patterns of engagement and what factors might explain these distinct patters of action. Results from an online survey about behavioural intentions in the United States (n = 527) revealed three types of individual action that could transform the exotic pet trade. Private actions clustered separately from civic actions. Within the category of civic actions, a distinction emerged between lower social‐commitment actions and higher social‐commitment actions, based on the perceived level of social engagement and personal efforts involved. We also found that each type of action was associated with unique factors, highlighting the importance of attitudes, perceived social norms, and relational values for variously promoting individual engagement among the U.S. public. Our findings suggest that these distinct types of action should be treated differently when designing future wildlife conservation campaigns and behaviour change interventions. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10517attitudesbehaviour changecollective actionrelational valuessocial normstransformative change |
| spellingShingle | Rumi Naito Jiaying Zhao Robin Naidoo Kai M. A. Chan Private and civic actions as distinct types of individual engagement for transforming the exotic pet trade People and Nature attitudes behaviour change collective action relational values social norms transformative change |
| title | Private and civic actions as distinct types of individual engagement for transforming the exotic pet trade |
| title_full | Private and civic actions as distinct types of individual engagement for transforming the exotic pet trade |
| title_fullStr | Private and civic actions as distinct types of individual engagement for transforming the exotic pet trade |
| title_full_unstemmed | Private and civic actions as distinct types of individual engagement for transforming the exotic pet trade |
| title_short | Private and civic actions as distinct types of individual engagement for transforming the exotic pet trade |
| title_sort | private and civic actions as distinct types of individual engagement for transforming the exotic pet trade |
| topic | attitudes behaviour change collective action relational values social norms transformative change |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10517 |
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