A question that has long been posed by environmentalists, and is especially relevant to California right now, is whether the growing severity of climate-related issues is going to force changes in people’s lives. The hurdle to lifestyle and behavioral change is a difficult one to cross, and Cameron Brick, an environmental and social psychologist, believes that information alone is not going to do it. People also need options that give them the ability to change their behaviors, or “channel factors.” These can range from policy initiatives to public transportation systems. Green proponents may press for people to give up their cars, but unless a convenient, low-cost public transit option exists, they won’t be able to do anything else but drive, Brick points out.
As the long-standing lifestyles in developed countries become more unsustainable, the question might now be: “How do we translate people’s knowledge and beliefs about the environment into lifestyle changes to reduce their carbon footprint?” A paper Brick coauthored while a PhD candidate at UCSB, “Unearthing the ‘Green’ Personality," published at Environment and Behavior, identifies the core traits that influence environmental behaviors and shows how personality is translated into action through attitudes.
Personality, Brick describes, acts as a new and unique predictor. Genes, life experiences, and culture are all variables of the building blocks of an individual’s personality and regular behaviors. “People who are open-minded and enjoy new experiences,” said Brick, who is now a visiting assistant professor at Hamilton College, “have the kind of flexible, long-distance, and long-term thinking to become concerned and start changing their behavior. These people are usually more concerned about the environment and more likely to choose pro-environmental actions in their daily lives.”