The Morphology of Environmental Identity: Gaps and Future Research

Environmental Identity research is dispersed across disciplines, resulting in a fragmented conceptual landscape that limits cumulative theory development and constrains comparison of findings. Diverse definitions, dimensions and related constructs, employed inconsistently, hinder systematic understanding of how environmental identity is structured and applied. Given its dynamic and multifaceted nature, few studies offer a comprehensive understanding of environmental identity. This study addresses this fragmentation by combining a systematic literature review with Morphological Analysis to synthesize the concept of environmental identity. Based on 41 studies, the analysis identifies eight dimensions and 155 variants that represent distinct conceptual expressions of environmental identity. The Morphological Analysis Framework organizes these elements in a unified structure, while the Variants Intersection Matrix enables systematic identification of underexplored conceptual linkages. Nine additional variants are proposed through interpretive synthesis to enhance conceptual completeness. The study provides an integrative structure that supports cumulative interdisciplinary research on human-nature relationships and sustainable behavior.