Leveraging Self-regulation to Effectively Address the Environmental Attitude–Behaviour Gap

This chapter investigates the critical role of self-regulation skills in narrowing the environmental attitude–behaviour gap, a significant psychological and societal challenge. Despite increased awareness of climate change’s risks, there remains a substantial disconnect between individuals’ pro-environmental attitudes and their actual behaviours. This gap is often exacerbated by automatic cognitive processes and emotional resistances that hinder sustainable actions. Through a detailed analysis of the existing literature, this work illustrates how enhanced self-regulation, particularly through mindfulness practices, can strengthen individuals’ capacity to align their actions with their environmental intentions. The synthesis presented in this chapter provides a comprehensive understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying the attitude–behaviour gap and proposes practical approaches for promoting environmental responsibility. By integrating findings from environmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and behavioural studies, we propose a model where mindfulness enhances self-awareness and self-regulation, facilitating sustainable lifestyle changes. This model offers a new perspective on mitigating environmental challenges through personal and collective action.