Ed 11 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

2nd Semester AY 2022-2023

FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE ATTITUDES AND

BEHAVIOUR
Objective: To understand what behaviour is and how it relates to the environment. To also
understand and be able to identify several factors that influence behaviour.

WHAT IS BEHAVIOUR?

Behaviour is the collective pattern of decisions, practices, and actions of people. Behaviour is
defined according to what humans perceive to be in their best interest, and based on their values,
socio economic situation, as well as other factors. According to Bruce Byers, the behavior of
individuals and social groups forms the interface between ecological systems and social systems.
(Figure 1.1) A person or a group’s behaviour may be either conservation oriented or destructive to
the environment. It is, therefore, important to conservationists and environmental educators to
understand behaviour and the many factors that influence a person’s behaviour in order to
properly design their programmes.

BEHAVIOUR I S THE LINK BETWEEN

THE SOCIAL SYSTEM AND THE ECOSYSTEM
Assessment:

1. Ask the trainees what factors

might influence behaviour.

Finally, explain that it is important

for environmental educators to
understand these factors in depth,
as these factors are intimately
associated with the root causes of
conservation problems. If they
understand these factors and how
they influence behaviour, they will
understand how to affect and
change those behaviours that
have a negative impact on the
environment.