# Satisfied and Secured—An Integration of Self-Determination Theory and Attachment Theory in the Environmental Domain

## TL;DR

This study explores how personal traits like attachment and motivation affect pro-environmental behaviors, finding that secure individuals with high need satisfaction are more likely to act environmentally.

## Contribution

The study integrates attachment theory and self-determination theory to explain variability in the effectiveness of environmental motivation interventions.

## Key findings

- Four distinct profiles were identified based on attachment and need satisfaction levels.
- Self-determined motivation only predicts pro-environmental behavior in secure, high-need individuals.
- Insecure individuals show no link between motivation and environmental behavior.

## Abstract

While environmental motivation research has investigated several factors that can facilitate and promote the adoption of pro-environmental behaviors, questions remain on how individuals can be brought to change their behaviors and habits. In the current study, we draw on attachment theory and self-determination theory to better understand why motivational interventions meant to increase pro-environmental behaviors are ineffective for some individuals. Using a person-centered approach, our analysis uncovered four latent profiles characterized by varying levels of attachment insecurity and basic psychological need satisfaction. Further analysis suggests that these four profiles are associated with distinct motivational pathways in the environmental domain. Our results suggest that self-determined motivation is a direct predictor of pro-environmental behaviors solely for individuals from the secure attachment and high-need satisfaction profile. This association was not observed in individuals arising from insecure attachment and low-need satisfaction profiles, suggesting that the association between motivation and pro-environmental behaviors commonly reported in the literature might be moderated by one’s social environment. Implications for motivation researchers and policymakers are discussed, such as the relevance of considering attachment when designing motivational interventions in the environmental domain.