How wildlife value orientations relate to broader cultural constructs
Date
2022
Authors
White, Wesley R., author
Manfredo, Michael, advisor
Teel, Tara, committee member
Henry, Kim, committee member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Previous research suggests that studying human thought processes in relation to broad cultural constructs holds promise for strengthening the application of the social sciences to wildlife management and conservation, and through this paper we attempt to advance those efforts. Researchers in social and cross-cultural psychology have long studied cultural constructs, in particular tightness-looseness and individualism-collectivism, shown as powerful dividers in contrasting cultures. While it is known that cultural differences exist, the extent of the strength of variance and if these cultural elements can be systematized to make generalized predictions about effects on cognitions is not clear. The theory of wildlife value orientations (WVOs) suggests that WVOs are interlinked with cultural constructs, including broad cultural ideologies described as egalitarianism and domination, or mastery, and that they are embedded in a hierarchy of cognitions. However, explicit tests of these relationships are largely lacking. As proposed by a multilevel model applied in recent WVO research in the U.S., forces of modernization (e.g., increased wealth, education, urbanization) have changed culture via a shift in the social-ecological context, which in turn has prompted a shift from domination to mutualism WVOs. As modernization has changed discrete aspects of culture, the ideology of egalitarianism believed to underly mutualism has become more pervasive, and persons have increasingly begun to view animals relationally as non-human others and less as a resource to be mastered. It would then follow that collectivist cultures, strong in egalitarianism values, may exhibit a tendency towards holding a mutualist orientation. Similarly, as tight cultures show greater propensity to exert inward group pressure, they may also exhibit a tendency toward outward control of their environment as is seen in a domination WVO. Here, we used data collected in a pilot study during the spring of 2015, along with additional data from the 2018 America's Wildlife Values project, to investigate whether WVOs have significant correlations with collectivism and individualism and tightness and looseness. Results of this research show that, while tightness and looseness show a linkage, collectivism and individualism are not significantly related to WVOs. This discovery is notable as it informs not only how conservation and wildlife management messaging may need to be structured for greatest efficacy, but it reveals that the mode and messenger may be of equal importance. We discuss the implications of these findings for conservation, as well as additional research needs to further elucidate the connection between WVOs and broader cultural constructs.
Description
Rights Access
Subject
tightness – looseness
wildlife conservation
wildlife value orientations
values
collectivism – individualism
wildlife management