CONNECTING VALUES AND BEHAVIOUR: EXPLORING THE PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR OF FEMALE HOMEMAKERS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The sustainable development of Singapore requires every individual to lead a sustainable lifestyle and engage in pro-environmental behaviour (PEB). In this thesis, household PEB of female homemakers in Singapore will be analysed, for household behavioural change is identified to contribute significantly to the reduction of humans’ negative impact on the environment. Being ‘gatekeepers’ of environmental actions in and around the house, female homemakers in Singapore is an important sub-group to study for their household PEB. However, how do personal values that homemakers hold, that are said to influence PEB, relate to their PEB? Is there a gap between the intention and engagement of PEB, or what is known as the value-action gap (VAG), among homemakers in Singapore? The existence of the VAG could be attributed to a wide range of factors that intervene and change the relationship between PEB intention and engagement. It is in this light that this study would like to investigate 1) the role of values in influencing PEB and 2) the VAG in household PEB of Singapore female homemakers.