From Belonging to Act: How National Identification Amplifies Collective Efficacy for Pro-Environmental Behavior

An increasing number of researchers are recognizing the importance of focusing on collective efforts in influencing pro-environmental behavior, given that environmental issues are collective crises. Collective efficacy, defined as a group member’s belief in the group’s ability to achieve desired outcomes through collective action, can be an important variable that influences pro-environmental behavior. However, the relationship between collective efficacy and pro-environmental behavior has not yielded consistent results in the literature. This research explores the moderating role of national identification, grounded in social identity related theory, to explain the inconsistencies regarding the relationship between collective efficacy and pro-environmental behavior. We conducted three studies to examine how collective efficacy and national identification jointly shape pro-environmental behavior. Specifically, we conducted a survey (Study 1, N = 444), an online experimental study manipulating collective efficacy (Study 2, N = 145) and a pre-registered experiment (Study 3, N = 365) in a fictional context, which employed a dual manipulation design. We found that the effect of collective efficacy on pro-environmental behavior or intentions was moderated by national identification. This research provides empirical support for the Social Identity Model of Pro-Environmental Action (SIMPEA) framework, and offers valuable insights for nationwide practical interventions in real-life settings.