Professionalisation and professional identities of environmental experts: the case of Switzerland

Abstract

This article examines professional identities of environmental experts. Do the professional identities of environmental experts mainly depend on affiliation to a particular professional specialisation (higher education, specialised occupation)? Or do they rather depend on individual work experience and expertise? To answer these questions, the article presents data from a re-analysis of a survey with Swiss environmental professionals (N = 406). Two approaches are discussed: a sociological one, comparing occupational groups of different grades of professionalisation; and a psychological one, comparing professionals with different grades of expertise. In the study presented, professional identity is operationalised according to Hausser (1995. Identitätspsychologie. Berlin: Springer), consisting of three components: self-concept, self-esteem and control beliefs. In general, both professionalisation and expertise show an influence on professional identities. Differences in professionalisation among environmental experts, however, exert a greater influence on professional identities than individual work experience or expertise. Discussion focuses on the consequences for an integrated environmental profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Environmental Sciences (15693430) is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)