The perfectionistic model of pro-environmental behaviour: Using perfectionism and dichotomous thinking to explain why people avoid difficult pro-environmental behaviours

Perfectionism is linked to elevated all-or-nothing (dichotomous) thinking, reduced self-evaluations (e.g., self-compassion, self-efficacy), and behavioural avoidance. This paper reviews the clinical model of perfectionism and the literature on the connections between perfectionism, self-related constructs such as self-compassion and self-efficacy, and pro-environmental behaviour. It introduces the ‘perfectionistic model of pro-environmental behaviour.’ In an initial test of the model, we explore the associations between perfectionism, dichotomous thinking, self-evaluative constructs and the stated frequency of different types of pro-environmental behaviours. The sample comprised of 344 participants (Mean age = 43.66; SD = 13.01). Our findings reveal that perfectionistic concerns (self-criticism about making mistakes) and perfectionistic strivings (setting high personal standards) exert opposing effects on the reported frequency of difficult pro-environmental behaviours. Specifically, perfectionistic concerns are associated with decreased frequency, while perfectionistic strivings are linked to increased frequency of difficult pro-environmental behaviours. Dichotomous thinking negatively correlates with the frequency of difficult pro-environmental behaviour. Both perfectionistic concerns and strivings indirectly influence pro-environmental behaviour frequency through dichotomous thinking. This study suggests that future longitudinal research should examine if heightened perfectionism leads to increased dichotomous thinking, resulting in decreased frequency of pro-environmental behaviour over time. Given the negative association between dichotomous thinking and the frequency of difficult pro-environmental behaviours, future research could explore whether continuous framing of pro-environmental behaviour yields better overall improvement compared to binary framing in an experimental study.