Caring for things helps humans grow: Effects of courteous interaction with things on pro-environmental behavior

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of courteous interaction with familiar objects on pro-environmental behavior and well-being. We explored the process of interaction with everyday objects, such as pens and glasses in a preliminary study (N = 64), and to reveal two aspects that define these interactions, namely active care for objects and awareness of learning from the interaction (N = 687; Study 1). The more people cared for and learned through their interactions with a particular object, the more they perceived a connectedness to it (N = 195; Study 2). Furthermore, caring for and learning with familiar objects promoted various environmentally conscious behaviors and contributed to individual well-being (Study 3; N = 600). In this way, we discussed the relationship between interaction with everyday objects, the aspects of these interactions, and the influence of these interactions on an individual’s perspective toward the wider environment.