A Test of Personal Characteristics That Influence Farmers’ Pro-environmental Behaviors

Current models of farmer conservation practices minimize the role of individual personality characteristics. This study examined the relationship between farmers’ use of conservation practices that impact surface water quality and the personality characteristics of work motivation, environmental attitude, and moral reasoning about the environment. A significant negative predictive relationship was found between an externally based self-concept and pro-environmental behaviors. This finding lends support to the notion that farmers concerned about what their neighbors and peers think may not believe their efforts to benefit surface water will be adequately recognized. A significant negative predictive relationship was found between anthropocentric reasoning and pro-environmental behaviors. This finding indicates that farmers who are concerned about the health of the environment for the sake of human health and well-being are less likely to use conservation practices. Implications for research and practice are included.