Invloeden op duurzaam gedrag Een kwalitatieve studie naar de aangedragen belemmeringen en bevorderlijke invloeden door hoger en lager opgeleiden, die duurzaamheid belangrijk vinden, voor hun al dan niet duurzame gedrag.

Abstract

The lifestyles of people living in the West have major consequences for the environment and people living in poorer countries. These lifestyles are not sustainable and therefor behavioural change is necessary. The aim of this qualitative study is to examine the influences mentioned by people with higher and lower education which facilitate or obstruct their sustainable behaviour, and to investigate whether there are any differences in educational level. Fifteen Dutch people were interviewed, for whom sustainability is an important value. Seven of them were lower educated (mbo) and eight were higher educated (wo). Who respondents hold responsible was important in whether people acted or not. With the lower educated, a lack of money is more often an obstacle, but both groups would profit from lower prices for sustainable products and services. Higher educated people seem to need more insight into the effects of their behaviour and joint effects. To describe a feeling of sadness and despondency regarding the state of the world the term ‘sustainability gloom’ is proposed. Although there seems to be more focus on sustainability in school and in circles of higher educated respondents, the question whether this difference is actually there, remains unanswered.