Social identity and pro-environmental behavior—a scoping review

Abstract Leveraging social identities (SIs) is a promising strategy to foster pro-environmental behavior (PEB), but research on the SI–PEB association is fragmented, making synthesis challenging. This scoping review systematically maps empirical research on the association between SIs and PEB based on 82 studies. Most studies utilized quantitative-descriptive designs and self-report measures, assessing a wide range of specific SIs and various types of PEBs. Eight categories of SIs based on their content were identified, spanning SIs referring to the environment, specific groups, or places, with most showing positive associations with PEB. To gain a clearer understanding of these categories, they can be further grouped based on two criteria: (1) whether the SIs refer to an external environment (e.g. a specific place) or a social group of people (e.g. an activist group), and (2) whether the SIs have an obvious link to the environment and/or environmental issues (e.g. environmental identity) or not (e.g. national identity). This review emphasizes the importance of focusing on single SI categories to delve deeper into the mechanisms and potential variations within and between the categories. It also recommends future research to improve the practical applicability of these findings as most studies relied on self-report measures, and few were conducted in real-world settings. By providing a structured overview and highlighting key research directions, this review establishes a foundation for advancing the research field and combating climate change.