Work

Evolutionary biases drive neutralization in leisure

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Environmental misbehavior in nature-based leisure, such as littering or off-trail hiking, is increasingly studied through neutralization theory, which explains how individuals use cognitive strategies to reduce guilt and justify norm violations. While this perspective clarifies how misbehavior occurs, it offers limited insight into why it persists. This paper introduces Stone Age Biases, cognitive shortcuts shaped by evolutionary pressures, as a complementary lens. We highlight five biases—self-interest, short-sightedness, social status, social imitation, and sensory mechanisms—that once aided survival but now predispose individuals to environmentally harmful behavior. Neutralizations are argued to operate in line with these biases, enabling individuals to reconcile ancestral drives with modern environmental norms. Integrating neutralization theory with evolutionary psychology provides a deeper account of persistent misbehavior in nature-based leisure and underscores the need for interventions targeting evolved cognitive mechanisms rather than relying solely on moral appeals.

Source: Annals of Tourism Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2025.104047

Authors: Marianna Strzelecka, Arash Akhshik

Institutions: Linnaeus University, Jagiellonian University

Language: English

Topic: Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,060

Funders: Narodowe Centrum Nauki, Narodowym Centrum Nauki