Biospheric Values Predict Ecological Cooperation in a Commons Dilemma Scenario

Abstract

In ecological commons dilemma research, environmental values tend to be treated as a monolith. However, environmental values vary and they do not equally predict proenvironmental behavior. In this study, we investigated the impact of three kinds of proenvironmental values (egoistic, altruistic, and biospheric) on competitive and cooperative behavior in a hypothetical ecological commons dilemma scenario. Two hundred Canadian undergraduate students completed an online survey assessing proenvironmental value orientation and commons dilemma decision-making tendencies. In line with our hypothesis, controlling for demographic characteristics (e.g., gender) and key facets of social desirability (e.g., impression management), egoistic, altruistic, and biospheric values positively predicted competition, altruistic cooperation, and ecological cooperation, respectively, within the commons dilemma. Results show that to promote the sustainable consumption of shared ecological resources, it is prudent for educators, environmental managers, and policy makers to encourage the expression of biospheric values.