Environment and Nature

The Theory

Basic SDT research topics

Kaplan, U.Fang, W. T. (2025) Environmental motivation as a complex dynamic system. Motivation and Emotion,

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Gao, R.Liu, J.Dai, W.Yang, J. (2025) Visible greenery as my resource? The connection between passive green space exposure and relative deprivation from a self-determination perspective. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 112 ,Article 128932

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Bureau, J-F.Gauthier, A. J.With, S.Deneault, A-A. (2025) Satisfied and secured—An integration of Self-Determination Theory and attachment theory in the environmental domain. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 15(4) ,62

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Sun, X.Zhao, L. (2024) Conspicuous or inconspicuous consumption? Consumer’s goal-framing perspective on purchase intentions of fashion-branded NFTs in the virtual world. International Textile & Apparel Association, 81(1)

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Badole, S.Bird, S.Heintzelman, M., Legault, L. (2024) Willingness to pay for solar adoption: Economic, ideological, motivational, and demographic factors. Energy Economics, 136 ,107703

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Spitzer, J.Grapsas, S.Poorthuis, A. M. G., Vansteenkiste, M. (2024) Coming of age in a warming world: A self-determination theory perspective. Child Development Perspectives, Advance online publication

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Arvanitis, A.Barrable, A.Touloumakos, A. K. (2024) The relationship between autonomy support and structure in early childhood nature‐based settings: Practices and challenges. Learning Environments Research, 27 ,101–119,

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Legault, L.Bird, S.Heintzelman, M. D. (2024) Pro-environmental, pro-social, pro-self, or does it depend? A more nuanced understanding of the motivations underlying residential solar panel adoption. Energy Research and Social Science, 111

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Reyes, V.Unaue, W.Vignoles, V. L., Van den Broeck, A. (2024) Materialism predicts burnout through the basic needs: Individual-level and within-person longitudinal evidence. Work & Stress, 38:1 ,90-114

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Tang, P. M.Klotz, A. C.McClean, S. T.Wang, Y. (2023) Who needs nature? The influence of employee speciesism on nature-based need satisfaction and subsequent work behavior. Journal of Applied Psychology, 108(11) ,1737–1765

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Legault, L. (2023) In R. M. Ryan (Ed.), The “what” and the “why” of proenvironmental deeds: How values and self-determined motivation interact to predict environmentally protective behavior. Oxford University Press The Oxford handbook of self-determination theory, ,(pp. 1130-1148)

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Yang, Y.Cai, H.Yang, Z.Zhao, X. (2022) Why does nature enhance psychological well-being? A self-determination account. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 83 ,101872

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Nguyen, H. V.Thi Thu Le, M.Thanh Do, L. (2022) Intrinsic motivation for reducing single-use plastics: The compensation effects of basic psychological needs. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 185 ,106482

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Gauthier, A. J.Guertin, C., Pelletier, L. G. (2022) Motivated to eat green or your greens? Comparing the role of motivation towards the environment and for eating regulation on ecological eating behaviours – A Self-Determination Theory perspective. Food Quality and Preferences, 99 ,104570

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Lee, E. S.Maillet, M. A., Grouzet, F. M. (2022) Why do individuals engage with the natural world? A self-determination theory perspective on the effect of nature engagement and well-being. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 17 ,1501–1532

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Landon, A. C.Woosnam, K. M.Kyle, G. T.Keith, S. J. (2021) Psychological needs satisfaction and attachment to natural landscapes. Environment and Behavior, 53(6) ,661-683.

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Masson, T.Otto, S. (2021) Explaining the difference between the predictive power of value orientations and self-determined motivation for proenvironmental behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 73 ,101555

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Baxter, D., Pelletier, L. G. (2020) The roles of motivation and goals on sustainable behaviour in a resource dilemma: A self-determination theory perspective. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 69 ,101437

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Mackenzie, S. H., Hodge, K. (2020) Adventure recreation and subjective well-being: a conceptual framework. Leisure Studies, 39(1) ,26-40

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Legault, L.Bird, S.Powers, S. E.Sherman, A. (2020) Impact of a motivational intervention and interactive feedback on electricity and water consumption: A smart housing field experiment. , Environment and Behavior , 52(6) (pp. 666-692) doi: 10.1177/0013916518811433

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Hicklenton, C.Hine, D. W.Loi, N. M. (2019) Does green-person-organization fit predict intrinsic need satisfaction and workplace engagement?. Frontiers in Psychology, 10 ,2285

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Audrin, C.Brosch, T.Sander, D., Chanal, J. (2018) More than meets the eye: the impact of materialism on information selection during luxury choices. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 12 ,172

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Audrin, C.Cheval, B., Chanal, J. (2018) Materialism modulates the impact of mortality salience on impulsive tendencies toward luxury brands. 42(2) ,115-122

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Tagkaloglou, S., Kasser, T. (2018) Increasing collaborative, pro-environmental activism: The roles of Motivational Interviewing, self-determined motivation, and self-efficacy. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 58 ,86-92

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Barrable, A., Arvanitis, A. (2018) Flourishing in the forest: looking at Forest School through a self-determination theory lens. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, 22(1) ,39-55

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Audrin, C.Brosch, T., Chanal, J.Sander, D. (2017) When symbolism overtakes quality: Materialist consumers disregard product quality when facing luxury brands. Journal of Economic Psychology, 61 ,115-123

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Unanue, W.Rempel, K.Gómez, M. E., Van den Broeck, A. (2017) When and why does materialism relate to employees’ attitudes and well-being: The mediational role of need satisfaction and need frustration. Frontiers in Psychology, 8(1755) ,1-15

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Audrin, C.Ceravolo, L., Chanal, J.Brosch, T. (2017) Associating a product with a luxury brand label modulates neural reward processing and favors choices in materialistic individuals. Scientific Reports, 7 ,16176

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Marshall, G. R.Hine, D. W.East, M. J. (2017) Can community-based governance strengthen citizenship in support of climate change adaptation? Testing insights from Self-Determination Theory. Environmental Science & Policy, 72 ,1-9

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Curren, R.Metzger, E. (2017) Living well now and in the future: Why sustainability matters. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

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Grønhøj, A.Thøgersen, J. (2017) Why young people do things for the environment: The role of parenting for adolescents’ motivation to engage in pro-environmental behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 54 ,11-19

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Aitken, N. M., Pelletier, L. G.Baxter, D.E. (2016) Doing the difficult stuff: Influence of self-determined motivation toward the environment on transportation pro-environmental behaviour. Ecopsychology, 8 ,153-162

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Lavergne, K., Pelletier, L. G. (2016) Why are attitude-behavior inconsistencies uncomfortable? Using motivational theories to explore individual differences in dissonance arousal and motivation to compensate.. Motivation and Emotion, 40(6) ,842-861

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Sherman, A.K.Bird, S.Powers, S.Rowe, A. (2016) Motivational orientation explains the link between political ideology and proenvironmental behavior. Ecopsychology, 8(4) ,239-249

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Lavergne, K., Pelletier, L. G. (2015) Predicting individual differences in the choice of strategy to compensate for attitude-behaviour inconsistencies in the environmental domain. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 44 ,135-148

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Kochanowski, L.Carr, V. (2014) Nature playscapes as contexts for fostering self-determination. Children, Youth and Environments, 24(2) ,146-167

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Pelletier, L. G.Aitken, N. (2014) In M. Gagné (Ed.), Encouraging Environmental Actions in Employees and in the Working Environment: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective. , The Oxford Handbook of Work Engagement, Motivation, and Self-Determination Theory (pp. 314-334) New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

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Sweeney, J. C., Webb, D.Mazzarol, T. W.Soutar, G. N. (2014) Self-determination theory and word of mouth about energy-saving behaviors: An online experiment. Psychology and Marketing, 31 ,698-716

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Kasser, T.Kanner, A. (2013) Psychology and Consumer Culture: The Struggle for a Good Life in a Materialistic World. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association

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Webb, D.Soutar, G. N.Mazzarol, T.Saldaris, P. (2013) Self-determination theory and consumer behavioural change: Evidence from a household energy-saving behaviour study. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 35 ,pp. 59-66

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Sweeney, J. C.Kresling, J., Webb, D.Soutar, G. N. (2013) Energy saving behaviours: Development of a practice-based model. Energy Policy, 61 ,371-381

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Hurst, M.Dittmar, H.Bond, R., Kasser, T. (2013) The relationship between materialistic values and environmental attitudes and behaviors: A meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 36 ,257-269

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Pelletier, L. G.Baxter, D.Huta, V. (2011) Personal autonomy and environmental sustainability. In V. Chirkov, R. Ryan, & K. Sheldon (Eds.), Personal autonomy in cultural contexts: Global perspectives on the psychology of agency, freedom, and people’s well-being. (pp. 257-278) Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer.

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Sheldon, K. M.Nichols, C. P., Kasser, T. (2011) Americans recommend smaller ecological footprints when reminded of intrinsic American values of self-expression, family, and generosity. Ecopsychology, 3 ,97-104

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Lavergne, K. J.Sharp, E. C., Pelletier, L. G.Holtby, A. (2010) The role of perceived government style in the facilitation of self-determined and non self-determined pro-environmental behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30 ,169-177

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Renaud-Dube, A., Taylor, G.Lekes, N.Koestner, R. (2010) Adolescents’ motivation toward the environment: Age-related trends and correlates. Canadian Journal of Bahavioural Science, 42 ,194-199

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Ryan, R. M., Weinstein, N.Bernstein, J. H., Brown, K. W. (2010) Vitalizing effects of being outdoors and in nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30 ,159-168

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Renaud-Dubé, A., Taylor, G.Lekes, N., Koestner, R. (2010) Adolescents’ motivation toward the environment: Age-related trends and correlates. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 42(3) ,194-199

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Weinstein, N.Przybylski, A. K., Ryan, R. M. (2009) Can nature make us more caring? Effects of immersion in nature on intrinsic aspirations and generosity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35 ,1315-1329

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DeCaro, D.Stokes, M. (2008) Social-psychological principles of community-based conservation and conservancy motivation: Attaining goals within an autonomy-supportive environment. Conservation Biology, 22(6) ,1443–1451

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Pelletier, L. G.Sharp, E. (2008) Persuasive communication and proenvironmental behaviours: How message tailoring and message framing can improve integration of behaviors through self-determined motivation. Canadian Psychology, 49 ,210-217

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Philippe, F. L., Vallerand, R. J. (2008) Actual environments do affect motivation and psychological adjustment: A test of self-determination theory in a natural setting. Motivation and Emotion, 32 ,81-89

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Kasser, T.Cohn, S.Kanner, A. D., Ryan, R. M. (2007) Some costs of American corporate capitalism: A psychological exploration of value and goal conflicts. Psychological Inquiry, 18 ,1-22

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Moller, A. C., Ryan, R. M., Deci, E. L. (2006) Self-determination theory and public policy: Improving the quality of consumer decisions without using coercion. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 25 ,104-116

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Brown, K. W., Kasser, T. (2005) Are psychological and ecological well-being compatible? The role of values, mindfulness, and lifestyle. Social Indicators Research, 74 ,349-368

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Villacorta, M., Koestner, R.Lekes, N. (2003) Further validation of the Motivation Toward the Environment Scale. Environment and Behavior, 35 ,486-505

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Osbaldiston, R., Sheldon, K. M. (2003) Promoting internalized motivation for environmentally responsible behavior: A prospective study of environmental goals. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23 ,349-357

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Kasser, T. (2002) The high price of materialism. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press

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Pelletier, L. G. (2002) In E. L. Deci, & R. M. Ryan (Eds.), A motivational analysis of self-determination for pro-environmental behaviors. (pp. 205-232) Rochester, NY: University Of Rochester Press.

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Koestner, R.Houlfort, N.Paquet, S.Knight, C. (2001) On the risks of recycling because of guilt: An examination of the consequences of introjection. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31 ,2545-2560

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Legault, L., Pelletier, L. G. (2000) Impact of an environmental education program on students’ and parents’ attitudes, motivation, and behaviours. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science Revue, 32 ,243-250

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Pelletier, L. G.Dion, S.Tuson, K. M., Green-Demers, I. (1999) Why do people fail to adopt environmental behaviors? Towards a taxonomy of environmental amotivation. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 29 ,2481-2504

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Pelletier, L. G.Tuson, K., Green-Demers, I.Noels, K. (1998) Why are you doing things for the environment? The Motivation Toward the Environment Scale (MTES). Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 28 ,437-468

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Levesque, C. S., Pelletier, L. G.Hunsley, J. (1998) Toward a model of environmental activism. Environment and Behavior, 30 ,628-652

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Green-Demers, I., Pelletier, L. G.Menard, S. (1997) The impact of behavioural difficulty on the saliency of the association between self-determined motivation and environmental behaviours. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 29 ,157-166

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Pelletier, L. G., Green-Demers, I.Béland, A. (1997) Pourquoi adopter des comportements écologiques? Validation de l’Échelle de Motivation envers l’Environnement.. Revue Canadienne des Sciences du Comportement, 29 ,145-156

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Kasser, T., Ryan, R. M. (1996) Further examining the American dream: Differential correlates of intrinsic and extrinsic goals. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22(3) ,280-287

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Ryan, R. M. (1989) Social ontology and its relevance for psychological theory. New Ideas in Psychology, 7 ,115-124

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