An analysis of relation between adaptive, egocentric and pathological forms of selfishness and two-factor environmental values model (2-MEV)

Abstract

In this study, the environmental attitudes associated with different forms of selfishness, namely Adaptive, Egocentric, and Pathological personality traits, were examined. Specifically, the relationship of these traits with the two dimensions of the Environmental Values Model (2-MEV), which are preservation and utilization of the environment, was investigated. Data were collected from 716 undergraduate students for this purpose. After preliminary data checks, analyses were conducted. The analyses revealed a negative relationship between the preservation and utilization factors of the environment. The traits of Adaptive, Egocentric, and Pathological Selfishness showed significant correlations with both the preservation and utilization sub-dimensions. These traits were negatively correlated with the preservation sub-dimension and positively correlated with the utilization sub-dimension. In the structural equation model (SEM) analysis, the adaptive selfishness trait did not significantly predict either of the sub-dimensions. However, the egocentric and pathological selfishness traits negatively and significantly predicted the preservation sub-dimension and positively and significantly predicted the utilization sub-dimension.