Sociology ETDs

Publication Date

4-8-1976

Abstract

The environmental movement is analyzed as a major social reform movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Emerging from the conservation movement at the turn of the century, the environmental movement progressed through a series of evolutionary stages from its revival in the early 1960s to its decline after the energy crisis of 1973.

This research traces both the general trends in the movement's social base of support and in its counter movement over the period from 1969 through 1975. Particular emphasis is given to the analysis of change in pro-environmental bias and anti-environmental bias in the pre-energy crisis period of 1973 and the post-energy crisis period of 1974 and 1975.

Six independent variables – age, education, occupation, income, region and size of place of residence – are tested as indicators of the dependent variable e:nvironmental bias. The relationship between each of these variables and environmental bias is examined.

The data illustrate the growth of the environmental movement's social base of su1pport between 1968 and 1970. its peak in the pre-energy crisis period of 1973 and its subsequent decline after 1973. Uncommitted environmental responses increase between 1969 and 1973 and then exhibit a significant growth after 1973. Anti-environmental bias or counter movement support doubles between 1969 and 1975 and shows a sizeable increase after the energy crisis.

Finally, the theory of relative deprivation accounts for the deconversion of the environmental movement's social base of support and the increase in both uncommitted responses and anti-environmental bias. The energy crisis, inflation, the rise in unemployment and contractions in employment are proposed to have threatened blockage of expectations for continued patterns of lifestyle and resource consumption. The growth of feelings of deprivation relative to past expectations are suggested to have affected a change in environmental bias.

Degree Name

Sociology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Sociology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Arthur St. George

Second Committee Member

George Arthur Huaco

Third Committee Member

Charles E. Woodhouse

Project Sponsors

Russel Sage Foundation for their research grant to obtain the 1971 Roper Public Opinion Research data.

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Download

Included in

Sociology Commons

Share

COinS