Date of Conferral

2015

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Peggy Gallaher

Abstract

The 5 factor model of personality, including the traits of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, is a well-established theoretical model for describing how personality is structured. Hirsh (2010) demonstrated the big 5 personality traits, excluding extraversion, were correlated with pro-environmental attitudes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to replicate previous findings, and discover if there was a correlation with a person's pro-environmental behaviors and the big 5 personality traits. A total of 100 participants from an online participant pool completed a survey, which included the Environmental Concern Scale to measure concern and attitudes about the environment, and the General Ecological Behavior scale and the Self-Reported Pro-environmental Behavior Scale to measure participants' pro-environmental behaviors. Bivariate correlations and multiple regression were performed to determine the predictive relationship between personality traits and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. The trait of openness was significantly correlated with both pro-environmental attitudes, r(91) = .36, p < .01, and behaviors r(93) = .41, p < .01. Agreeableness was also significantly correlated with pro-environmental behaviors r(93) = .26, p <. 05. Multiple regression revealed that trait of openness was found to be a significant predictor of pro-environmental concern F(5, 87) = 3.69, p < .005, and behaviors F(5, 89) = 4.04, p < .002. The implications for positive social change include a better understanding for psychologists of which of the Big 5 personality traits are more likely to contribute in the participation preserving the environment.

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