I. List of items used in the analyses.

Note. All scales ranging from 1 = ‘strongly disagree’ to 6 = ‘strongly agree’.

Connectedness to nature scale (see Mayer & Frantz, 2004)

  • I often feel a sense of oneness with the natural world around me.
  • I often feel disconnected from nature.
  • I have a deep understanding of how my actions affect the natural world.
  • I think of the natural world as a community to which I belong.
  • When I think of my life, I imagine myself to be part of a larger cyclical process of living.
  • When I think of my place on Earth, I consider myself to be a top member of a hierarchy that exists in nature.
  • I often feel a kinship with animals and plants.
  • I feel as though I belong to the Earth as equally as it belongs to me.
  • I often feel part of the web of life.
  • I feel that all inhabitants of Earth, human, and nonhuman, share a common ‘life force’.

Emotional reactions

Please think of the environmental damages you just read about when completing the following questions.

  • I feel guilt when thinking about the environmental risks I just read about.
  • Facing the depicted situation, I feel ashamed.
  • I feel anger when thinking about this situation.
  • The depicted circumstances sadden me.
  • When thinking about the depicted risks, I feel pride.
  • The mentioned risks do not affect me emotionally.

Behavioral intentions (see Böhm & Pfister, 2000)

With regard to the situation I just read about,...

  • ... I would like to forget everything as soon as possible.
  • ... I would sign a petition so that the situation or potential damage gets prevented.
  • ... I would like to pour out my heart to a friend.
  • ... I would donate money to an environmental organization acting on these issues.
  • ... I would help mitigate the harm done.
  • ... I would like to be aggressive towards the one who is responsible.
  • ... I could cry.
  • ... I would take part in a protest so the situation or potential damages are prevented.
  • ... I would try to help to reduce or limit damage.
  • ... I feel like yelling at the one who is responsible.
  • ... I would like to run away.

II. Full factor analysis results of emotional reactions.

Item / Factor 1 / Factor 2
I feel guilt when thinking about the environmental risks I just read about. / .971
Facing the depicted situation, I feel ashamed. / .738
I feel anger when thinking about this situation. / .530 / .366
The depicted circumstances sadden me. / .491 / .567
When thinking about the depicted risks, I feel pride.
(reverse-scored) / .531
The mentioned risks do not affect me emotionally.
(reverse-scored) / .769
Rotated sum of squared factor loadings / 35.616% / 22.203%

Note. Maximum likelihood extraction and varimax rotation were used. Loadings < .35 are not displayed