Psychological Factors and Determinants of Sustainable Behavior: Models, Mechanisms, and Socialization Agents

Sustainable behavior leads to socially, environmentally, and economically positive outcomes, which are increasingly important in changing societies. Based on a narrative review of the relevant scientific literature, this chapter identifies the main psychological theories describing, explaining, and predicting the role of psychological factors and determinants of sustainable behavior. Its utility in the lifelong learning of green skills and sustainable behavior is discussed. Modern sustainable behavior theories represent earlier ones, especially Ajzen’s Theory of planned behavior and Schwartz’s Norm activation theory. In explaining the psychological factors and mechanisms of sustainable behavior, this chapter introduces additional psychological constructs that improve the predictive power of the presented theories. Based on the literature review and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological systems theory, the authors integrate the psychological factors, mechanisms, relevant socialization agents, and social (sub)systems dynamics that contribute to developing green skills and sustainable behavior into a summative framework. This framework might present an elaborate starting point for developing and implementing sustainable lifelong learning policies.