Zero-Sum Beliefs Predict Reduced Pro-Environmental Behaviour by Predicting Reduced Empathy for Both Humans and Nature

Zero-sum beliefs about the nature–human relationship (ZSB-NH) conceptualise environmental protection and human wellbeing as inherently conflicting and have been shown to reduce pro-environmental behaviour (PEB). However, the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain poorly understood. The present study examined whether empathy for humans and empathy for nature mediate the relationship between ZSB-NH and PEB. Australian adults (N = 943) completed measures of ZSB-NH, human-directed empathy, nature-directed empathy, and PEB. Parallel mediation analyses showed that ZSB-NH negatively predicted both empathy for humans and empathy for nature, which, in turn, positively predicted PEB. Both forms of empathy significantly and partially mediated the relationship between ZSB-NH and PEB, with neither indirect effect differing significantly in magnitude. When empathy was examined at the facet level, ZSB-NH negatively predicted all dimensions of human and nature empathy; however, only taking a human perspective uniquely mediated the relationship with PEB, possibly due to multicollinearity present between the nature empathy subscales. The direct effect of ZSB-NH remained significant, indicating partial mediation. These findings suggest that zero-sum beliefs may inhibit pro-environmental behaviour partly by reducing empathy, particularly cognitive perspective taking, while also highlighting that additional mechanisms contribute to this relationship. Interventions that foster perspective taking and directly challenge zero-sum beliefs may therefore promote greater engagement in pro-environmental behaviour.