10.2190/030Q-Q4KE-7YFB-4Q0F 030QQ4KE7YFB4Q0F 3 Some Psychological Aspects of Living Lightly: Desired Lifestyle Patterns and Conservation Behavior 215 227 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 030QQ4KE7YFB4Q0F.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=030QQ4KE7YFB4Q0F 3 Raymond de Young The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor It has been argued that an environmentally compatible lifestyle is a necessary if somewhat onerous component of a sustainable society. This perception might lead one to demand compensation for adopting such a lifestyle. An alternative perspective suggests such a lifestyle contains its own compensation. This study explores whether a conservation-oriented lifestyle may be intrinsically satisfying. Data from respondents to a mail-back questionnaire were explored using factor analysis and analysis of variance. Several categories of items emerged, focusing on ecology, technology, self-reliance and acceptance-of-wastefulness. The respondents most preferred an ecologically focused lifestyle. This article also explores the relationships between these desired patterns and reported conservation behavior and intrinsic satisfactions. S. Kaplan and R. Kaplan, <i>Cognition and Environment: Functioning in an Uncertain World</i>, Praeger, New York, 1982. L. Schipper et al., Linking Life-Styles and Energy Use: A Matter of Time?, <i>Annual Review of Energy, 74</i>, pp. 273-320, 1989. R. Gregg, Voluntary Simplicity: Part I, <i>Manas, 27</i>, September 4, 1974. R. Gregg, Voluntary Simplicity: Part II, <i>Manas, 27</i>, September 11, 1974. C. Henderson, The Frugality Phenomenon, <i>Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 34</i>, pp. 24-27, 1978. R. Inglehart, <i>The Silent Revolution</i>, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1977. K. E. Henion and T. C. Kinnear (eds.), <i>The Conserver Society</i>, American Marketing Association, Chicago, 1979. W. Johnson, <i>Muddling toward Frugality</i>, Shambhala, Boulder, 1978. W. Johnson, <i>The Future Is Not What It Used To Be: Returning To Traditional Values In an Age of Scarcity</i>, Dodd, Mead and Company, New York, 1985. C. Koenenn, Esprit Urges Consumers to Buy Only What They Need, <i>Ann Arbor News</i>, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 1, 1990. E. S. Geller, Behavior Analysis and Environmental Protection: Where Have All the Flowers Gone?, <i>Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23</i>, pp. 269-273, 1990. S. C. Cosmas, Life Styles and Consumption Patterns, <i>Journal of Consumer Research, 8</i>, pp. 453-455, 1982. W. Leiss, A Value Basis for Conservation Policy, <i>Journal of Policy Studies, 9</i>, pp. 613-620, 1980-81. R. De Young, Some Psychological Aspects of Recycling: The Structure of Conservation Satisfactions, <i>Environment and Behavior, 18</i>, pp. 435-449, 1986. R. De Young, Encouraging Environmentally Appropriate Behavior: The Role of Intrinsic Motivation, <i>Journal of Environmental Systems, 15</i>, pp. 281-292, 1985-86. J. C. Lingoes, A General Survey of the Guttman-Lingoes Non-Metric Program Series, in <i>Multidimensional Scaling, Volume 1</i>, R. N. Shepard, A. K. Romney, and S. B. Nerlove (eds.), Seminar, New York, 1972. J. A. Kulik, W. R. Revelle, and C. C. Kulik, Scale Construction by Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, unpublished manuscript, University of Michigan Computing Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1970. L. J. Cronbach, Coefficient Alpha and the Internal Structure of Tests, <i>Psychometrika, 16</i>, pp. 297-335, 1951. J. C. Nunnally, <i>Psychometric Theory</i>, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1978. EPA, <i>The Solid Waste Dilemma: An Agenda for Action</i>, Office of Solid Waste, Washington, DC, 1989. K. Hurst and P. Relis, <i>The Next Frontier: Solid Waste Source Reduction</i>, Community Environmental Council, Inc., Santa Barbara, California, 1988. Office of Technology Assessment, <i>Facing America's Trash: What Next for Municipal Solid Waste</i>, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1989. M. V. Melosi, <i>Garbage in the Cities: Refuse, Reform, and the Environment, 1880-1980</i>, Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas, 1981. M. B. Brinkerhoff and J. C. Jacob, Alternative Technology and Quality of Life: An Exploratory Survey of British Columbia Smallholders, <i>Social Indicators Research, 14</i>, pp. 177-194, 1984. R. De Young, Exploring the Difference between Recyclers and Non-Recyclers: The Role of Information, <i>Journal of Environmental Systems, 18</i>, pp. 341-351, 1988-89. J. Vining and A. Ebreo, What Makes a Recycler?: A Comparison of Recyclers and Nonrecyclers, <i>Environment and Behavior, 22</i>, pp. 55-73, 1990. P. C. Stern and G. T. Gardner, Psychological Research and Energy Policy, <i>American Psychologist, 36</i>, pp. 329-342, 1981. R. A. Winett and E. S. Geller, Comment on "Psychology Research and Energy Policy," <i>American Psychologist, 36</i>, pp. 425-426, 1981.