Measuring cultural values and beliefs about environment to identify their role in climate change responses

• Cultural values and beliefs about the environment are investigated.
• Psychometric dimensional measures are developed and tested.
• Two oblique dimensions are identified framing environment as ‘ductile’ or ‘elastic’.
• Myths of physical nature are used by individuals to negate or support conservation.
• Cultural biases were found to directly influence climate change responses.

Cultural perspectives shape responses to climate change. This research examines ‘myths of physical nature’ outlined in cultural theory. Patterns of values and beliefs about the environment are described as ‘cultural biases’, which legitimize four ways of life – worldviews. We test whether cultural biases about the environment have the same structure as those about society. Study 1 details sound psychometric measures developed through a survey of Australians (n = 290). Study 2 replicates the measures (n = 5081), and demonstrates their predictive validity in relation to climate change beliefs and self-reported pro-environmental behaviors. Two negatively correlated dimensions are identified that differ from the grid-group framework. Individualistic and fatalistic perspectives frame the environment as ‘elastic’ to justify damaging behaviors. Hierarchical and egalitarian perspectives frame the environment as ‘ductile’ to justify environmental conservation. Theoretical implications and differences to established measures of environmental concern and worldview are discussed.