Environmental Guilt Partially Mediates the Negative Effect of Zero-Sum Beliefs About Nature–Human Relations on Pro-Environmental Behaviour

Zero-sum beliefs about nature–human relations (ZSB-NH) reflect viewing the relationship between nature and humans as competitive and antagonistic and constitute a significant barrier to pro-environmental behaviour. Conversely, environmental guilt, arising from recognising one’s or one’s ingroup’s contribution to environmental harm, is an important motivator of pro-environmental behaviour. However, ZSB-NH may attenuate feelings of environmental guilt as it legitimises environmental harm, suggesting a potential mechanism through which these beliefs reduce pro-environmental behaviour. Australian residents (N = 878, MAge = 54.17) completed a cross-sectional survey containing validated measures of these constructs. As expected, the findings showed that stronger zero-sum beliefs predicted lower environmental guilt and reduced engagement in pro-environmental behaviour. Environmental guilt, in turn, positively predicted pro-environmental behaviour and partially explained the relationship between zero-sum beliefs and environmental action. These findings suggest that zero-sum perceptions of the nature–human relationship can legitimise environmental harm and diminish the moral emotions that encourage environmentally responsible behaviour. Thus, environmental guilt and zero-sum beliefs are potential targets of intervention to promote greater engagement in pro-environmental behaviour.