1“New Ecological Paradigm”Riley Dunlap et al.• The NEP explores the current state of our understanding of nature and our relation to it.• First, how to read Dunlap et al:– Focus on their assessment of the content of the scale, and its usefulness at measuring the “construct” of an ecological paradigm– Skim the material on constructing the new scale, and internal consistency (pp 434-435).– Do carefully read about the scale’s “Predictive Validity” (p. 436)– And about “Trends” (p. 437).“New Ecological Paradigm”Riley Dunlap et al.• You’ll recognize the set of perceptions and notions of nature in the 15 “polar” statements Dunlap et al use to measure commitment to NEP or DSP:• The reality of growth limits (1, 6, 11)• Anti-anthropocentrism (2, 7, 12)• Fragility of nature’s balance (3, 8, 13)• Rejection of exemptionalism (4, 9, 14)• Possibility of eco-crisis (5, 10, 15)Example: Exceptionalism:• (4) Human ingenuity will insure that we do NOT make the earth unlivable.• (9) Despite our special abilities, humans are still subject to the laws of nature.• (14) Humans will eventually learn enough about how nature works to control it.Example: Fragility of nature’s balance• (3) Humans are severely abusing the environment.• (8) The balance of nature is strong enough to cope with the impacts of modern industrial nations.• (13) The balance of nature is very delicate and easily upset.“New Ecological Paradigm”Riley Dunlap et al.• Dunlap et al. had several goals in survey:• Recognize and capture shift from obvious, point problems like local air and water pollution to env. problems that are:– Geographically disperse– Less directly observable– Ambiguous in origin– Need to measure awareness over environmental issuesRiley Dunlap et al.Dunlap et al. had several problems:• Are they measuring a unitary construct?• Is it meaningful?• Does it tap foundational beliefs, “primitive beliefs”?• Does “pro NEP” attitudes lead to “pro environmental” behaviors?• Does NEP predict?2Example of a fundamental notion: Our assessment of nature’s basic operating code: is it inherently forgiving and stable, or unbalance and inherently unstable? Can we perturb it a lot or only a little?• (3) Humans are severely abusing the environment.• (8) The balance of nature is strong enough to cope with the impacts of modern industrial nations.• (13) The balance of nature is very delicate and easily upset.Dunalp conclusions• They do find support for NEP among: younger, more educated, liberal groups.• Less among more rural, conservative and people employed in primary industries (e.g., farming, logging, etc.). Thus it “predicts” in the sense it supports other surveys.• Trend: There is little longitudinal data, but: increases in NEP support in WA and KY studies.• My sense: both aspects of survey: ability to predict behavior and whether there’s authentic trend to fundamental NEP’ness need more
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