On the relationship between antisocial and anti-environmental behaviors: An empirical study

According to relevant literature, anti-environmental behaviors such as wasting natural resources are a type of antisocial behaviors. However, there is limited empirical evidence showing a significant relationship between those kinds of negative actions. The aim of this study was to investigate such relationship. One hundred and fourteen persons living at a Mexican city responded to a questionnaire investigating their tolerance to antisocial behaviors (hitting somebody, stealing objects, cheating, etc.). Direct observations of people engaging in water waste actions were also conducted. These included observations of the time the individuals invested in washing their cars, washing their households' sidewalk and washing the portion of street in front of their houses. Results of a structural model indicated that a significant relationship between people's tolerance to antisocial actions and their waste of water exists, as anticipated. Implications of these findings for research in conservation behavior are discussed.