Huitfeldt, Alexandra (2023) The Role of Awe in Arctic Tourism. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
It is clear that travelling to the Arctic has negative environmental impacts, but it is not clear whether it also has a possible consequence, namely increases in pro-environmental behaviour. Awe is an emotion, common in touristic experiences, that arises from encountering rare natural phenomena making people feel small and reconsider what they know. This research aimed to determine the relationship between these two variables, hypothesising that the more people experience awe during an Arctic touristic expedition, the more they report their pro-environmental behaviour after the trip compared to before. A longitudinal study was conducted with researchers and tourists during the 2022 Scientific Expedition Edgeøya Spitsbergen, measuring emotions twice daily during the trip and administering pre-and-post measures for pro-environmental behaviour. The main findings show that people do experience awe in the Arctic, yet this does not translate to a change in pro-environmental behaviours. As a result, more critical perspectives on the role of visitors in sustainable tourism are required to challenge prevailing narratives, call present practices into question, and promote responsible behaviours that emphasize the well-being of local populations and ecosystems. Keywords: arctic tourism, awe, Edgeøya Spitsbergen, pro-environmental behaviour, SEES, the Arctic regions
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Supervisor name: | Valkengoed, A.M. van |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Environmental Psychology (EP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Jul 2023 09:13 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Jul 2023 09:13 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/2357 |
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