Psychological ownership of nature and environmental responsibility among local recreational hunters

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Tourism Review

Publication Date

9-11-2026

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to explore psychological ownership of nature among local recreational hunters in villages surrounding Dana Biosphere Reserve in Jordan and how this feeling of ownership is reflected in their environmental responsibility. Design/methodology/approach – Using a snowball sampling technique, this study recruited a sample of local recreational hunters and conducted semistructured interviews to obtain in-depth insights into their experiences and perspectives. Findings – The findings reveal that hunters exhibit a strong sense of PO of nature, expressed through key dimensions of self-identity, possession and belongingness. This sense of ownership is associated with more responsible behavior. Participants demonstrated various environmentally responsible behaviors, including sustainable hunting practices, adherence to regulations and encouraging sustainable behavior among fellow hunters. Originality/value – This study makes a novel contribution by investigating recreational hunters’ PO and demonstrating its role in fostering pro-environmental behavior. The findings indicate that hunters demonstrate a strong sense of PO, which in turn encourages environmental responsibility. Overall, this study is among the few scholarly efforts to apply PO theory in the context of outdoor recreation in general and recreational hunting in particular.

ISSN

1660-5373

Publisher

Emerald

First Page

1

Last Page

21

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

Caza recreativa, Environmental responsibility, Jordan, Jordania, Propiedad psicológica, Psychological ownership, Recreational hunting, Responsabilidad medioambiental, 休闲狩猎, 心理所有权, 环境责任, 约旦

Scopus ID

105050567713

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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