Through the lens of a naturalist: How learning about nature promotes nature connectedness via awe

• Published in: Journal of environmental psychology 2023-12, Vol.92, p.102069, Article 102069
• Main Authors: Ng, Shu Tian, Leung, Angela K.-y., Chan, Sarah Hian May
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Awe; cross-sectional studies; Environmental education; Intervention; Learning about nature; Lens; mobile telephones; Nature connectedness; psychology; species identification
• ISSN: 0272-4944
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102069

Environmental educators stress the importance of engaging with the wonders of the Earth in promoting nature connectedness. However, it remains unclear if learning about nature has an incremental effect beyond mere exposure to nature and what psychological mechanism can explain such a learning effect if it exists. To fill this gap, we propose a mediation model in which learning about nature promotes a sense of awe—a self-transcendent emotion associated with the recognition of vastness in nature. A sense of awe, in turn, promotes nature connectedness. Study 1 employed a cross-sectional survey and offered preliminary support for the proposed model, with participants who showed greater knowledge about nature (assessed by a species identification quiz) reporting higher levels of dispositional awe and nature connectedness, even after controlling for contact with nature. Study 2 was an experimental study that administered a two-week intervention where participants learned about nature with the help of two smartphone applications, Google Lens and Seek by iNaturalist. Results showed that there was an indirect effect of learning about nature on nature connectedness via awe among participants with higher levels of engagement with the intervention. The practical implications of our findings are discussed. •Learning about nature may induce nature connectedness, mediated by awe.•Individuals with greater knowledge of nature reported higher awe and nature connectedness.•Smartphone applications were used to facilitate learning in a two-week intervention experiment.•Effects of the intervention on promoting awe and nature connectedness depended on engagement.