Nature Relatedness as an Orientation in Moral Psychology
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19227284 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Joel Janhonen (0000-0003-0696-7987, University of Turku), Juuso Kähönen (0000-0003-3945-3368, University of Helsinki), Irina Salmi (0000-0001-6609-9478, University of Turku, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-05 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1932-4502 • E-ISSN: 1936-3567 |
| Publisher | Springer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12124-026-09996-x |
| PMID | 42082818 |
| OpenAlex | W7160310478 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 140 |
In this article, we theoretically explore the role of biophilia for morality, challenging and expanding recent moral psychological models that struggle to account for this relationship. We conceptualize the psychological trait of Nature Relatedness as a comprehensive biophilic orientation or mode of being that enables individuals to integrate nature into their identity and informs their interactions with both natural and social environments. By synthesizing theories of Erich Fromm and Arne Næss with recent research, we claim that biophilic orientation involves not only the transition from a narrow to an ecological self, but also encompasses worldviews, values, and experiences. We develop the idea that dispositional aspects of biophilia and affective-experiential levels of morality interact: Biophilic disposition is both driven by and drives self-transcendent experiences and affect-laden engagements that foster self-other overlap, possibly expanding one's moral concern. We connect these ideas to moral psychological research on moral intuitions and identity, particularly by discussing Nature Relatedness in relation to Jonathan Haidt's Moral Foundations Theory. One's subjective relationship and identification with the natural world appear central to moral expansion. Besides extending concern to non-human individuals, parochial, group-cohesion-related moral emotions might be re-channeled. These binding foundations appear generally resistant to moral expansion, yet the biophilic drive to integrate and unite may broaden one's identification beyond human ingroups. Thus, we propose that Nature Relatedness may expand moral intuitions across foundations, outlining what a non-anthropocentric application of moral foundations and biocentric intuitions might look like. Implications, including prospective interventions, and the need for further research, are discussed
Disposition · Identification (biology) · Identity (music) · Moral development · Moral disengagement · Moral psychology · Morality · Natural (archaeology) · Social cognitive theory of morality · Environmental Philosophy and Ethics · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Urban Green Space and Health
Biophilia
Biological Autonomy
Good Natured
Where do biospheric values come from? A connectedness to nature perspective
Meta‐analysis of human connection to nature and proenvironmental behavior
Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation
Morality as Cooperation
The Structure of Environmental Concern
A literature review of connectedness to nature and its potential for environmental management
Self-Transcendent Emotions and Their Social Functions
Do people who feel connected to nature do more to protect it? A meta-analysis
Psychological and physical connections with nature improve both human well-being and nature conservation
The NR-6
Value Orientations to Explain Beliefs Related to Environmental Significant Behavior
The Psychology of Worldviews
Ideological differences in the expanse of the moral circle
Cooperation is in our nature
Human–nature connectedness as a pathway to sustainability
The value of environmental self-identity
Connectivity With Nature as a Measure of Environmental Values
Values as Predictors of Environmental Attitudes
Inclusion with Nature
Relationships between value orientations, self-determined motivational types and pro-environmental behavioural intentions
Moral psychology is relationship regulation
Environmental Identity
The Moral Emotions
Putting the Altruism Back into Altruism
Why protect nature? Rethinking values and the environment
Culture and systems of thought
The connectedness to nature scale
Nature-connective educational architecting – an approach to education based on the life-sustenance hypothesis
The role of self-transcendent emotions in psychedelic experiences
In moral relationship with nature
Nature connection, pro-environmental behaviours and wellbeing
The shallow and the deep, long‐range ecology movement. A summary∗
The Moral Roots of Environmental Attitudes
Disconnection from nature
The nature of peak experience in wilderness
Observing sustainability through the mindfulness lens
Self-Transcendent Positive Emotions as a Potential Mechanism Underpinning the Effects of Meaningful Psychedelic Experiences on Connectedness to Nature
Empathy Mediates the Relationship Between Nature Connectedness and Both Callous and Uncaring Traits
Classic Psychedelics and Human–Animal Relations
From Egoism to Ecoism
Healthy people with nature in mind
Meaningful Psychedelic Experiences Predict Increased Moral Expansiveness
Values, identity and pro-environmental behaviour
Ethics and Value in Naess’ Ecophilosophy
Mind the Gap
It is a moral issue
Motivating individuals for social transition
Moral intuitions predict pro-social behaviour in a climate commons game
There is an I in nature
Mapping morality with a compass
Awe, the diminished self, and collective engagement
Intuitive ethics
Moral expansiveness
Inclusion of Other in the Self Scale and the structure of interpersonal closeness
Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior
Morality beyond the Weird
Liberals and conservatives rely on different sets of moral foundations
Values as the Core of Personal Identity
Motivated decision making
Mapping the moral domain
The Varieties of Self-Transcendent Experience
The Nature Relatedness Scale
Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion
Concepts and measures related to connection to nature
Towards Ecological Self
Sustainability-aligned values
Hindering Harm and Preserving Purity
Who's Asking
The Moral Foundations of Care and Authority and the Perception of Animal Mind in Relation to Violence Against Animals
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |