A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Building upon the [Hines] behavior model and drawing upon additional research, Hungerford and Volk have proposed an expanded behavior model.(f.9) They believe that a set of major variables (environmental sensitivity, in-depth knowledge about issues, personal investment in issues, knowledge of and skill in using action strategies, locus of control, and intention to act) and minor variables (knowledge of ecology, androgyny, attitudes; knowledge of the consequences of behavior, and a personal commitment to issue resolution) contribute to responsible environmental behavior.(f.10) Hines et. al. found a moderate positive correlation between attitude and behavior in a meta-analysis of 51 studies. However, a recognized discrepancy between attitude and behavior has been observed in many psychological studies. One researcher concluded, after an extensive review of the literature, that evidence that attitudes lead to appropriate behaviors or actions is not strong. There are many theories to explain why attitudes and behavior are only sometimes linked. Most researchers believe that attitudes do influence behavior; however, they stress that closer attention must be paid to the way that attitudes and behaviors are measured.(f.23) (f.4) W.B. Stapp, "The concept of environmental education," JEE 1, no. 1(1969), p. 30-31; H.R. Hungerford, R.B. Payton and R.J. Wilkie, "Goals for curriculum development in environmental education," JEE 11, no. 3(1980), p. 43; Soren Breiting, "Towards a New Concept of Environmental Education," in Proceedings of the Conference on the Exchange of Promising Experiences on Environmental Education in Great Britain and the Nordic Countries. Karlslunde, Denmark, 11-13 November 1994, ed. Frances MacDermott (Bradford: European Research and Training Centreon Environmental Education, University of Bradford, 1995); S. Breiting, C.U. Christensen, H. Doff, B. Bruun, and J. and K. Nielsen, "Rapport reed Enfarmger fra MUVIN-skoler i Danmark i MUVIN's 1.fase," Forskningscenter for Miljo-og Sundhedsundervisning, Danmarks Laererhojskole, 1994; and T.J. Marcinkowski, "An analysis of correlates and predictors of responsible behaviour," Dissertation Abstracts International 49, no. 12 (1989), 3677A. See also the MUVIN project (1996) and a recent UNESCO document (1987, p. 2).