1. Measuring
Ecological
Character
Angela
Kurth,
Kallie
Renfus,
Rebecca
Noble,
Jessica
Zohrer,
Margaret
Moran,
Darcia
Narvaez
INTRODUCTION
Indigenous societies around the world traditionally have deep respect for the natural
world as a partner, life source and teacher. In reviewing differences between
indigenous and mainstream Western worldviews, Narvaez (2013, 2014) noted
several elements of difference: autonomy space, empathetic core, and commonself
perspective. Are these different attitudes and worldviews related to ecological
behavior? We examined this question by developing and testing several measures.
METHOD
Participants: For Exploratory Factor Analysis, 450 USA adults (48% male; Mage-=
38.5, SD = 12.8; 77.8% Euro-American; wide distribution of income) and for CFA and
correlations, 695 USA adults (45.9% male; ; Mage-= 36.67, SD = 11.9; 81.7% Euro-
American; wide distribution of income) recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk .
Ecological Intelligence Measures
We performed Exploratory Factor and Confirmatory Analyses on these sets of items
representing (a) empathy for humans and nonhumans; (b) embedded partnership
with nature; actions circumscribed by effects on others; flourishing of All in mind.
After eliminating factor loadings below .5, two sets of items emerged:
1. Ecological Empathy (α=.96) CHECK measures empathy for humans known
and unknown, and for nonhumans (“In the past week I remember feeling
sympathy /concern for …” e.g.: “the wellbeing of the earth”). We examined mean
scores.
2. Ecological Mindfulness (α=.94) examines attitudes and behaviors regarding
cooperation with living things (“In the past week, I…” e.g., “treated a plant with
respect”). We used the mean scores.
Confirmatory factor analysis with Yuan-Bentler correction was used to assess the fit
of these two sets, fit indices suggest the model was sufficient (CFI = .92, RMSEA = .
07)
(Note: for all correlations,** p < .01 level, * p < .05)
Our two new scales, Ecological Empathy (EE) and Ecological Mindfulness (EM), were
moderately correlated but showed different patterns of relations with other measures. EE
was less strongly related to other ecological variables than EM. EM may be tapping into
the more cognitive aspects of ecological relations, much like any explicit measure of
morality. In a separate analysis with a new triune ethics IAT (n=xxx;; undergraduates
only), only EM scores were related to implicit preference for engagement over self-
protectionist ethics.
Surprisingly, EM was more strongly related to moral capacities and moral orientations
than EE. Again, it may be a matter of measurement—all the measures are tapping into
explicit analysis of the self. As expected, neither EE nor EM was related to self-
protectionism orientations.
Our two new checklists, the Green Action variables were strongly correlated with each
other. They were both weakly correlated with existing measures of ecological concern
(Connectedness to Nature Scale; New Ecological Paradigm Scale), suggesting that they
are tapping into something different. Both Green Action variables were weakly correlated
with moral capacities and moral orientations. However, both were strongly related to
Ecological Empathy, suggesting that relational concern drives action rather than explicit
intention.
CONCLUSION
Ecological moral intelligence may be a new area for research.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Further analyses and studies should be conducted. Mediation analyses could be
conducted to parse aspects of moral development that relate to each of the new
variables.
Contact Information: Darcia Narvaez, dnarvaez@nd.edu
We also developed a Daily Green Action Index and Six-Month Green Action Index based on a review of actions recommended
to reduce carbon footprint. We collected various lists of green actions and suggestions to create our items. We divided the list into
actions that would occur more frequently and less frequently for the two scales. Item ratings were added for a summary score.
Validation
Concurrent validity. We assessed the relationship of our new scales with an existing measure: the Connectedness to Nature
Scale (CNS; Mayer, 2004; e.g., “I often feel part of the web of life”). We expected positive moderate correlations. The New
Ecological Paradigm Scale focuses on cognitive understanding of ecological issues (NEPS; Dunlap, Van Liere, Mertig, & Jones,
2000; e.g., “The balance of nature is very delicate and easily upset”).
Convergent validity. We collected responses on empathy, perspective taking and personal distress (Davis, 1983) and expected
moderate correlations. We also examined moral orientations according to triune ethics theory (TET; Narvaez, 2008, 2014, in press).
Specifically we examined Self-Protectionism (“controlled, tough, unyielding, competitive”); Engagement (caring, compassionate,
merciful, cooperative); and Reflective Imagination (“reflective, thoughtful, inventive, and reasonable”). Respondents rate how much
they want to be or are perceived to be like these characteristics (e.g. “My friends think I have these characteristics”). We expected
moderate correlations with engagement and communal imagination.
Predictive validity. We expected that scores on our new measures, Ecological Empathy Measure and Conscious Ecological Action
Measure, would be strongly positively correlated with the Daily Green Index and the Six-Month Green Action Index.
Table 1. Means and Standard Deviations (n=693)
Ecological Empathy
We are interested in your experience. Please
respond according to the frequency of your
feelings in the past week.
In the past week I felt concern for...
1. …the natural world
2. … a particular species
3. … an animal going extinct
4. … an animal I don’t know
5. … an insect
6. … a tree
7. … a forest
8. … a plant
9. … a mountain
10. … a river
11. … a lake or pond
12. … the ocean(s)
13. … biodiversity
14. … groups of animals
15. … groups of plants
16. … the wellbeing of the earth
1 2 3 4 5
Never On one
day
On
several
days
Every day Multiple
times a
day
Ecological Mindfulness
We are interested in your experience. Please
respond according to the frequency of your
experience in the past week.
In the past week I...
1. Treated animals like my brothers and sisters
2. Showed respect for a plant
3. Recognized a wild animal around my home
4. Paid attention to the habitat of animals and plants
around my home
5. Respected Nature
6. Tried to live as a partner with Nature
7. Felt responsible for the wellbeing of Nature
8. Respected the living things around me
9. Cared for the landscape of nonhuman entities
where I live
10. Tried to be mindful of earth care wherever I was
11. Made decisions guided by their effects on the
natural world
12. Made decisions with humility as one of many
earth creatures
13. Acted with awareness of the needs of biodiversity
14. Acted with awareness of the needs of animals
15. Acted with awareness of the needs of plants
Daily Green Action Index
Please indicate how often you have taken the action listed.
In the past week, I…
21. Consumed only animal friendly
products
22. Made an effort to not eat meat
23. Tried to avoid buying anything I
didn’t really need
24. Put recyclable materials into
recycling instead of the trash
25. Used reusable bags for shopping
26. Bought locally grown products
27. Hung up washed clothes to dry
instead of using the dryer
28. Made my own personal products
instead of buying them pre-made
(e.g., shampoo)
29. Purposefully purchased fair trade
products
30. Used biodegradable soap,
shampoos.
31. Reduced use of disposable
products by using reusable
containers
32. If I needed to buy disposable
products, I chose paper or glass
products instead of plastic.
33. Considered the footprint of
products before I bought them:
from resource extraction, to
production, distribution,
consumption, and disposal.
34. Actively tried to simplify my life
35. Drank tap water instead of bottled
water
36. Avoided using heating/cooling
system and changed clothing
instead
1. Turned the tap off when brushing
teeth and shaving
2. Turned off the lights or television
when I left the room
3. Unplugged phone and computer
chargers after use
4. Unplugged phone as soon as it is
charged
5. Biked, walked, or used mass transit
instead of driving
6. Composted organic waste
7. Washed in cold or warm water
instead of hot
8. Used cloth instead of paper
napkins
9. Took shorter showers
10. Printed double sided
11. Used reusable water bottle / coffee
mug
12. Encouraged others to make eco-
friendly choices
13. Used scratch paper instead of fresh
paper whenever possible
14. Washed dishes by hand instead of
using a dishwasher
15. Let my hair dry naturally instead of
using the hair dryer
16. Used natural cleaners (e.g., lemon
juice, vinegar) instead of chemical
cleaners
17. Avoided using plastic
18. Practiced slow food (home
cooking) instead of fast food
19. Carpooled
20. Avoided excess packaging in what
I purchased
Six Month Green Action Index
Please indicate how often you have taken the action listed.
In the past six months, I…
1. Sought information on how to live a more eco friendly life
2. Donated old clothes
3. Purchased used and secondhand items
4. Recycled batteries
5. Grew my own vegetables
6. Contacted a business to complain about the effects of their products on the
environment
7. Tried to decrease my desires for products that are harmful to the
environment
8. Tried to decrease my effects on the local ecology (e.g., did not kill insects
but put them outside)
9. Took actions to encourage biodiversity (e.g., organic lawn care)
10. Avoided using products that are toxic to living organisms (e.g., pesticides,
insecticides, soaps with phosphates, mineral oil)
11. Advocated ecologically-responsible actions to higher ups (e.g., boss,
political leaders)
12. Replaced incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs
13. Participated in an environmental awareness day in your community.
14. Wrote to my lawmakers or elected officials urging them to act with urgency
and put care for the environment
15. Encouraged my community to support mass transit and other alternatives to
the automobile for commuting
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Never
Once
Two times
3-4 times
5-8 times
6-12 times
More than
12 times
Variable M SD Possible
Range
α
Ecological Empathy (n=16) 2.64 .99 1-5 .959
Ecological Mindfulness (n=15) 2.02 .88 1-5 .952
CONCURRENT VALIDITY
Connectedness to Nature Scale (n=14) 3.43 .59 1-5 .809
New Ecological Paradigm Scale (n=16) 3.62 .72 1-5 .905
CONVERGENT VALIDITY
Empathy (n=7) 3.72 .58 7-35 .708
Perspective Taking (n=7) 3.80 .70 7-35 .557
Personal Distress (n=7) 2.49 .83 7-35 .593
TET Engagement (n=5) 4.10 .70 5-25 .902
TET Reflective Imagination (n=5) 4.06 .66 5-25 .902
TET Self Protectionism (n=5) 2.57 1.08 5-25 .870
PREDICTIVE VALIDITY
Daily Green Action Index (n=37) 90.28 25.41 37-185 .941
Six-Month Green Action Index (n=15) 36.98 16.27 15-105 .893
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
1. Ecological
Empathy
--
2. Ecological
Mindfulness
.67** --
3. Connectedness
to Nature Scale
.38** .57** --
4. New Ecological
Paradigm Scale
.34** .41** .38** --
5. Empathy .14** .33** .33** .20** --
6. Perspective
Taking
.14** .334* .33** .20** .54** --
7. Personal
Distress
.01 -.12** -.01 -.03 -.04 -.13** --
8. TET
Engagement
.13** .30** .30** .11** .58** .46** -.12** --
9. TET Reflective
Imagination
.14** .33** .33** .19** .39** .42** -.25** .58** --
10. TET Self
Protectionism
-.03 -.05 -.05 -.17** -.23** -.18** -.05 -.17** -.10** --
11. Daily Green
Action Index
.60** .32** .33** .33** .20** .22** -.12** .16** .19** .04 --
12. Six-Month
Green Action
Index
.66** .32** .27** .37** .14** .16** -.03 .13** .16** .02 .72**
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
See Table 1 for means and standard deviations, Table 2 for correlations.
Table 2. Correlations
1 2 3 4 5
Never On one day On several days Every day Multiple times a
day