Virtue and the Natural Environment: The Outcomes of Demonstrating Pro-Environmental Behaviors

Indianapolis, IN

Virtue is described as demonstrating behaviors high in moral standards. Many individuals believe that acting virtuously is strenuous and even inaccessible, in addition individuals tend to underestimate the benefits of acting virtuously (Sandstrom & Dunn, 2011). Acting virtuously, however, leads to increased happiness, as well as increased life satisfaction (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). Virtuous behaviors can be categorized into multiple components including justice, temperance, and transcendence (Sandstrom & Dunn, 2011). We will be examining specifically these three components of virtue, in order to relate them to pro-environmental behaviors. We predict that individuals who engage in pro-environmental behaviors fall into the previously mentioned components of virtue—justice, temperance, and transcendence and therefore experience increased happiness and life satisfaction. Our findings may provide insight as to why individuals may or may not choose to engage in pro-environmental behaviors. Furthermore, our findings may allow us to create ways in which to motivate individuals to engage in pro-environmental behaviors.