Understanding Pro-Environmental Behaviors and Intentions in Visitors to a Zoo-Based Seal Encounter

Brielle E. Blandford; Kate E. Mulgrew; Vikki Schaffer; Lee Kannis-Dymand

doi:10.1080/10645578.2023.2168873

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Understanding Pro-Environmental Behaviors and Intentions in Visitors to a Zoo-Based Seal Encounter

Journal article

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Understanding Pro-Environmental Behaviors and Intentions in Visitors to a Zoo-Based Seal Encounter

Brielle E. Blandford, Kate E. Mulgrew, Vikki Schaffer and Lee Kannis-Dymand

Visitor Studies, Vol.36(2), pp.125-142

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10645578.2023.2168873

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Abstract

Plastic use

pro-environmental behavior

seal encounter

theory of planned behavior

zoos

Increasing pro environmental behavior may combat environmental deterioration and promote animal and human welfare. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we investigated how an Australian zoo based seal encounter influenced participants' pro environmental intentions and behavior at 1 month follow up. Participants were 113 seal encounter visitors, with n = 29 providing 1 month post encounter data. Pre encounter, participants reported past and intended pro environmental behaviors, and TPB constructs (attitudes, perceived behavioral control, subjective and moral norms). Post encounter, participants rated their experience and future pro environmental intentions. At 1 month follow up, participants again reported their pro environmental behaviors. The model explained past pro environmental behaviors and future behavioral intentions (but not plastic use specifically), with subjective norms being the most important. Unlike past research, moral norms were not significant, perhaps due to the zoo based research context. Importantly, participants reported a decrease in plastic use 1 month post encounter. These findings provide suggestions for zoos to design encounters targeting subjective norms to promote pro environmental behavior.

Details

Title: Understanding Pro-Environmental Behaviors and Intentions in Visitors to a Zoo-Based Seal Encounter
Authors: Brielle E. Blandford (Author)
Kate E. Mulgrew (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Psychology
Vikki Schaffer (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative Industries
Lee Kannis-Dymand (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Psychology
Publication details: Visitor Studies, Vol.36(2), pp.125-142
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2023
DOI: 10.1080/10645578.2023.2168873
ISSN: 1934-7715; 1064-5578
Copyright note: © 2023 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
Organisation Unit: School of Business and Creative Industries; Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; Cancer Research Cluster; School of Health - Psychology; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99706097902621
Output Type: Journal article