Human Values and Pro-Environmental Behavior

1 It is widely assumed that personal values are related to environmentalism, and it has been hypothesized that individuals motivated by Maslow's values are especially likely to engage in pro-environmental behavior. This study tests this hypothesis by examining the values of a sample of recyclers. Compared to a national sample, the recyciers are found to emphasize higher-order values such as aesthetics and self-actualization, and to deemphasize lower-order values such as safety and security. While the differences are reduced somewhat when the recyclers are compared to a matched subsample with similar demographic characteristics, the basic pattern of differences remains. The potential implications of the result, particularly their support for the Maslowian perspective, are briefly discussed.