Significant Life Experiences Revisited: A Review of Research on Sources of Environmental Sensitivity

Abstract

Environmental sensitivity, an important variable in environmental awareness and in the predisposition to take responsible environmental action, has been the subject of a growing body of qualitative research, in which sensitivity is associated with particular kinds of significant life experiences. Studies of significant life experiences of environmental educators and other environmental professionals are reviewed, from original pioneering work through many open-ended surveys, questionnaires, and interview studies that have built on this tradition. Various definitions of the term environmental sensitivity are explored. The strengths and weaknesses of this research tradition are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested.