Attention to specific types of interactions with nature may promote nature connectedness.Nature connectedness, which includes an emotional attachment to nature, is an important element of the human-nature relationship. Research on nature connectedness often references the related concept of biophilia, that is, an innate tendency to have an affiliation for natural life or life-like processes. According to the biophilia hypothesis, this tendency stems from the evolutionary history of humans searching for survival-enhancing environments. Evidence in support of this hypothesis has been mixed. Some recent research suggests that biophilic tendencies and nature relatedness result from experiential learning rather than genetic heritability.
This study represents an initial inquiry into factors involved in becoming connected to nature. The biophilia hypothesis served as a framework for the investigation. The study focused specifically on how the nine values of biophilia might lead to connectedness to nature. The nine values cover a range of ways in which individuals relate to or interact with nature and are often manifested in cognitions, emotive responses, artistry, and ethics. The nine values are referred to as utilitarian, naturalistic, ecologistic-scientific, aesthetic, symbolic, humanistic, moralistic, dominionistic, and negativistic.
Eleven individuals participated in one of three focus group discussions structured around the nine values of biophilia. The individuals were assigned to a particular group based on the type of nature-related activity they regularly undertook. Each focus group was framed around three of the nine biophilic values. The values grouped together were considered to be the most similar to one another: (1) utilitarian, dominionistic and negativistic; (2) aesthetic, symbolic and naturalistic; and (3) humanistic, ecologistic-scientific and moralistic.
Seven primary themes emerged from the focus group discussions: scientific inquiry of nature, engaging with the senses, creating idyllic nature, noting nature through artistry, conservation of nature, growing food, and relating to wild nature. Each theme related to how participants became connected to nature. Each theme, then, can be considered a pathway to nature connectedness.
Discussion around some of the themes highlighted the importance of childhood engagement with nature. This finding is consistent with other research indicating that becoming emotionally affiliated with nature occurs through positive interactions during childhood and that “this emotional attachment endures in the form of a trait which contributes to a desire to have contact with nature in adulthood.” While implications can be drawn from this study for both the formation and maintenance of nature connectedness, more empirical research needs to be done.
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