Pro-Environmental Behaviour and Life History Theory

In order to tackle the impacts of climate change, it is important that all individuals behave and act in pro-environmental and sustainable ways in all aspects of their lives. However, it is clear that this is not what often do, so it is vital that psychological research plays a role in understanding why this is and also most importantly how to change it to encourage individuals to fully engage in environmental concerns.

One such approach is to understand how an individual’s early life can affect their attitudes, beliefs and decision-making in later life. According to Life History Theory (LHT), an adverse and unpredictable early environment can act as a ‘weather forecast’ for their future, leading to cognitive and emotional adaptations that allow them to thrive in such environments (Frankenhuis & de Weerth, 2013; Frankenhuis & Nettle, 2020). For example, individuals will be more likely to take risks if they believe that their future is uncertain or harsh, as it will be adaptive to put more effort in to short-term, immediate outcomes than longer-term ones (Ellis et al., 2017). This is because there is no guarantee for these individuals that the latter will happen.

This future discounting (i.e. discount the future and concentrate on current goals) is a key aspect of LHT, and has clear links to pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. By their nature, all sustainable and pro-environmental behaviours are future-oriented, and as such require individuals to have concerns and/or investment in the future inorder to behave in the correct way (i.e. incur the costs associated with living in environmentally-friendly ways). The problem therefore is how can we encourage individuals to engage in behaviours that will be valuable for the future, if they are adapted to prioritise the present?

The aim of this PhD is therefore to explore how LHT can influence individuals’ pro-environmental attitudes, and in turn how this can influence their pro-environmental behaviours. Furthermore the studentship will explore how manipulation of the presentation of pro-environmental concerns to individuals for whom prioritising the future is maladaptive can positively influence their behaviour, for example by concentrating on personal future priorities, (Palomo-Vélez et al., 2020). Ultimately, the studentship will look to draw on these preliminary findings to develop interventions that can successfully promote pro-environmental and sustainable behaviours among relevant communities in global real-world settings.

Application Process

To begin the application process please go to

https://www.worcester.ac.uk/courses/psychology-mphilphd and click on ‘How to Apply’ in the top menu. This PhD could be caried out on a part time or full time basis so please select the relevant application link. On the application form, please make it clear that you are applying for one of our advertised projects so we can direct it straight to the relevant people.

The Interview

All successful applicants will be offered an interview with the proposed Supervisory Team. You will be contacted by a member of the Research School Team to find a suitable date. Interviews can be conducted in person or over Microsoft Teams.

Funding your PhD:

For information about Doctoral Loans please visit: https://www.worc.ac.uk/study/fees-and-finance/doctoral-loans.aspx

During your PhD you can access the Research Student Support Scheme to support dissemination costs associated with your research, up to £500 a year.

Research Group

Interpersonal Relationships & Wellbeing Research Group

The Interpersonal Relationships and Wellbeing Research Group draws together internationally renowned academics from across Psychology, Business and Criminology, with partners in Industry, third sector organisations and local government. Research activity is organised around four themes: Wellbeing for Life; Customer Interactions; People and Work; and Trauma and Violence Prevention.

We study interpersonal relationships, wellbeing and their inter-connectivity from an inter-disciplinary perspective, to generate applied, solution-focussed research. Our research explores how individual, social and environmental factors influence relationships and wellbeing within different contexts, such as in workplaces, schools and online spaces. We are interested in understanding how interpersonal relationships contribute to mental health (construed as both trauma/mental ill-health, and as wellbeing) and how they shape individual and team behaviour in consumer and organizational settings. In doing so, we explore both the ‘dark’ and ‘light’ side of relationships and human behaviour more broadly.

Widening Participation:

As part of its mission statement the University is committed to widening participation for its higher degrees. Although most candidates will have an undergraduate and/or a Masters degree, the University is happy to accept applications from candidates with relevant professional qualifications and work related experience.

Supervisory team

Dr Daniel Farrelly, Dr Sarah Davis, Dr Alan Dixon

Director of Studies:

Dr Daniel Farrelly (Principal Lecturer in Psychology) Interpersonal Relationships and Wellbeing Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Worcester

Supervisors:

Dr Sarah Davis (Principal Lecturer in Psychology) Interpersonal Relationships and Wellbeing Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Worcester

Dr Alan Dixon (Principal Lecturer in Geography) Interpersonal Relationships and Wellbeing Research Group, School of Science and the Environment), University of Worcester.

Research Group: Interpersonal Relationships and Wellbeing Research Group

For further information or an informal discussion on this project, contact Dr Daniel Farrelly (Director of Studies) via email at d.farrelly@worc.ac.uk