The  Effects of Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions on Pro-Environmental Behaviour: How Culture Influences Environmentally Conscious Behaviour

Szabolcs  Nagy; Csilla  Konyha Molnárné

doi:10.18096/TMP.2018.01.03

Authors

Szabolcs Nagy University of Miskolc
Csilla Konyha Molnárné University of Miskolc

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18096/TMP.2018.01.03

Keywords:

pro-environmental behavior, culture, Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, Hungary, individualism, power distance

Abstract

The need for a more sustainable lifestyle is a key focus for several countries. Using a questionnaire survey conducted in Hungary, this paper examines how culture influences environmentally conscious behaviour. Having investigated the direct impact of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions on pro-environmental behaviour, we found that the culture of a country hardly affects actual environmentally conscious behaviour. The findings indicate that only individualism and power distance have a significant but weak negative impact on pro-environmental behaviour. Based on the findings, we can state that a positive change in culture is a necessary but not sufficient condition for making a country greener.

Author Biographies

Szabolcs Nagy, University of Miskolc

Associate Professor

Csilla Konyha Molnárné, University of Miskolc

Ph.D student

References

BOLDERO, J. (1995). The Prediction of Household Recycling of Newspapers: The Role of Attitudes, Intentions, and Situational Factors. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Vol. 25, No. 5, pp. 440-462. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.1995.tb01598.x

CHO, Y., THYROFF, A., RAPERT, M. I., PARK, S., AND LEE, H. J. (2013) “To be or not to be green: Exploring individualism and collectivism as antecedents of environmental behavior.” Journal of Business Research, Vol. 66, No. 8, pp. 1052–1059., doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2012.08.020.

GGEI (2014), The Global Green Economy Index, Measuring National Performance in the Green Economy 4th Edition – October 2014, Dual Citizen LLC, dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf

GUERRERO, L. A., MAAS, G., AND HOGLAND, W. (2013). Solid waste management challenges for cities in developing countries. Waste Management, Vol. 33, No. 1, 220-232. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2012.09.008

HOFMEISTER-TÓTH, Á., KASZA-KELEMEN, K. and PISKÓTI, M. (2011) A zöld fogyasztás árnyalatai Magyarországon (The shades of green consumption in Hungary). In: Kerekes, Szirmai, Székely (eds..) A fenntartható fogyasztás környezeti dimenziói 405 p. Budapest, Aula, pp. 45-70. Budapest: Aula, pp. 45-70.

HOFSTEDE, G. (1980). Culture's Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

HOFSTEDE, G. (2011). Dimensionalizing Cultures: The Hofstede Model in Context. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, Vol. 2, No. 1. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1014

HOFSTEDE, G. (2017): Cultural dimensions. Hungary. Retrieved from: https://geert-hofstede.com/hungary.html

HOFSTEDE, G. AND ARRINDELL, W. A. (1998). Masculinity and Femininity: The Taboo Dimension of National Cultures. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

HOFSTEDE, G. AND BOND, M. H. (1988). The Confucius connection: From cultural roots to economic growth. Organizational Dynamics, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 5-21. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0090-2616(88)90009-5

HOFSTEDE, G., HOFSTEDE, G. J. and MINKOV, M. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind (Revised 3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

HSU, A. et al. (2016). 2016 Environmental Performance Index. New Haven, CT: Yale University. Available: www.epi.yale.edu

KAISER, F. G., WÖLFING, S., and FUHRER, U. (1999). Environmental Attitude And Ecological Behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, Vol. 19 No.1, pp. 1-19. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jevp.1998.0107

KLÖCKNER, C. A. and OPPEDAL, I. O. (2011). General versus domain specific recycling behaviour - applying a multilevel comprehensive action determination model to recycling in Norwegian student homes. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Vol. 55, No.1, pp. 463-471 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2010.12.009

MARSHALL, R.E., FARAHBAKHSH, K., 2013. Systems approaches to integrated solid waste management in developing countries. Waste Management. Vol. 33, No.4, pp. 988–1003 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2012.12.023

NAGY, S. (2005) Környezettudatos marketing (Environmentally-conscious Marketing), PhD Thesis, University of Miskolc, Hungary. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/2.1.2782.2402

NAGY, S. (2012) A társadalmi marketing aktuális kérdéseiről – A környezettudatos magatartás mozgatóerői (Hot Topics in Social Marketing – Driving Forces of Pro-Environmental Behaviour). Gazdaságtudományi Közlemények. Vol. 6. No. 1, pp 61-74.

NEUMANN-BÓDI, HOFMEISTER, KOPP (2008): Kulturális értékek vizsgálata a magyar társadalomban Hofstede kulturális dimenziói alapján (Analysis of Cultural Values in the Hungarian Society based on Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions), In: Kopp (2008): Magyar lelkiállapot 2008 (Hungarian State-of-Mind 2008), Semmelweis Kiadó, Budapest, 2008

NORDLUND, A. M., and GARVILL, J. (2002). Value Structures behind Proenvironmental Behavior. Environment and Behavior, Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 740-756. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/001391602237244

OJALA, M. (2008). Recycling and Ambivalence. Environment and Behavior, Vol. 40, No. 6, pp. 777-797. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013916507308787

ONCE, S and ALMAGTOME, A (2014) The Relationship Between Hofstede’s National Culture Values And Corporate Environmental Disclosure: An International Perspective Research Journal of Business and Managemen (RJBM), Vol (1) Issue (3) pp 279-304

ONEL, N. and MUKHERJEE, A. (2013). The effects of national culture and human development on environmental health. Environment, Development and Sustainability, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 79-101. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10668-013-9464-y

OSKAMP, S. (2000). Psychology of Promoting Environmentalism: Psychological Contributions to Achieving an Ecologically Sustainable Future for Humanity. Journal of Social Issues, Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 373-390. doi:10.1111/0022-4537.00173

STEG, L. and VLEK, C. (2009). Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: An integrative review and research agenda. Journal of Environmental Psychology, Vol. 29, No.3., pp. 309–317. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2008.10.004

SWAMI, V., CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC, T., SNELGAR, R. and FURNHAM, A. (2011). Personality, individual differences, and demographic antecedents of self-reported household waste management behaviours. Journal of Environmental Psychology, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 21-26. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.08.001

SZAKÁLY, Z., PETŐ, K., POPP, J. and JASÁK, H. (2015) A LOHAS szegmens mérete és jellemzői Magyarországon. (The size and profile of LOHAS segment in Hungary), Táplálkozásmarketing, Vol 2, No.1, pp. 11-30.) https://doi.org/10.20494/TM/2/1/2

TYLOR, E. (1871) Primitive Culture: Research into the Development of Mythology, Philosophy, Religion, Art, and Custom. London. John Murray. Volume 1, page 1.

UNEP (2016). UNEP Frontiers 2016 Report: Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi.