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Papers by victor saenz corral

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental and Individual Factors in Adolescent Anti-Sociality: A Structural Model of Mexican Teenagers

International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences, 2013

This study was aimed at analyzing the effects of individual, family, and social factors on adoles... more This study was aimed at analyzing the effects of individual, family, and social factors on adolescent antisociality in Mexico. The sample comprised 184 youths: half of whom were arrested by police, and the other half of whom were teenagers from the general population, matched by age and school grade to the arrested group. Arrested adolescents were interviewed in their confinement centers, while those of the control group were sampled in the school they attended. A structural equation model was used to estimate the relationships between a negative social environment, family violence, negative individual characteristics, and antisociality. Negative social environment had a positive effect on both family violence and individual characteristics; in turn, family violence affected negative individual characteristics, which then influenced antisociality. The results indicated that negative contextual variables facilitate the development of negative individual characteristics, which then pu...

Research paper thumbnail of Psychology of climate change (Psicología del cambio climático)

PsyEcology, 2021

ABSTRACT Anthropogenic climate change, caused by the uncontrolled emission of greenhouse gases, i... more ABSTRACT Anthropogenic climate change, caused by the uncontrolled emission of greenhouse gases, is perhaps the greatest global challenge facing humanity. Psychology is the science of behaviour, so it takes on the task of studying and proposing coping strategies with regard to CC. Two strategies are possible: to mitigate the consequences of CC; and to adapt to those consequences. This article summarizes the main findings of psycho-environmental research related to psychological and situational predictors of coping responses to CC. It reviews the role of cognitive-rational determinants, affective-emotional factors, behavioural capabilities, personality traits and situational factors that facilitate mitigation and adaptive actions to CC. The paper concludes by discussing the role that psychology could play in global CC coping strategies, recognizing that there is a need to increase interest within the psychology community in the pressing problems of climate change.

Research paper thumbnail of Situational factors driving climate change mitigation behaviors: the key role of pro-environmental family

Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2019

Climate change mitigation behaviors (CCMB) are actions required to decrease the greenhouse gas em... more Climate change mitigation behaviors (CCMB) are actions required to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for anthropogenic climate change. The present study examines the influence of social and physical situational factors on CCMB in a sample of two hundred individuals living in a Mexican city. Participants responded to a series of scales focused on assessing CCMB such as household thermic comfort, pro-environmental family orientation, and perceptions of the city's pro-environmental public facilities, services, and community values. All of these situational factors were significantly interrelated, which suggests that they all affect CCMB. Yet, according to a structural model, the only factor that resulted in a significant (and more salient) direct influence on CCMB was proenvironmental family orientation. A second structural model indicated that household thermic comfort, pro-environmental public facilities/services, and pro-environmental public values had an indirect effect on CCMB mediated by pro-environmental family orientation.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Affinity towards Diversity Using the Implicit Association Test and Self-Reports

Sustainability, 2019

Affinity towards diversity (ATD) is the tendency to appreciate the dynamic variety of biophysical... more Affinity towards diversity (ATD) is the tendency to appreciate the dynamic variety of biophysical and socio-cultural scenarios. ATD may reveal a human predisposition to conserve the diversity necessary to guarantee the preservation of human and natural ecosystems. This study expands upon previous studies which employed only self-report measures by introducing a version of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and by using a mediational model to test whether ATD through sustainable (pro-environmental and pro-social) behaviors leads to greater wellbeing. We recruited 119 Mexican students to complete a computerized IAT task and respond to ATD, wellbeing, and sustainable behavior self-report questionnaires. Reliability analyses of the scales utilized showed acceptable indexes. A mediational model was tested to examine whether sustainable behaviors mediate the relationship between ATD and wellbeing. Results demonstrated that affinity towards diversity indirectly predicted wellbeing via the...

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainable Behaviors and Perceived Psychological Restoration

Acta de Investigación Psicológica, 2012

This study was aimed at exploring one potential psychological benefit of sustainable behaviors: t... more This study was aimed at exploring one potential psychological benefit of sustainable behaviors: the perceived psychological restoration (PR) associated to engaging in pro-environmental activities at both the physical and social levels. PR involves the recovery of lost psychological resources (attention, positive mood states, psychological wellbeing) mostly caused by attentional fatigue and stress, while sustainable behavior constitutes a set of actions aimed at the protection of natural and social resources. One-hundred- and thirtyseven individuals living in a Northern Mexican city participated in a study assessing four instances of sustainable behavior: altruistic, proecological, frugal, and equitable actions. In addition, four dimensions of a construct related to the perceived psychological restorative effects of sustainable behaviors were measured: being away, fascination, extent and compatibility, assumedly resulting from pro-environmental and pro-socialactions. Using structural...

Research paper thumbnail of Socio-physical environmental factors and sustainable behaviour as indicators of family positivity / Factores ambientales socio-físicos y conducta sostenible como indicadores de positividad familiar

Psyecology, 2015

Abstract Based on the theory that a positive environment meets human needs whilst at the same tim... more Abstract Based on the theory that a positive environment meets human needs whilst at the same time it stimulates engagement in environmentally protective behaviours, this study empirically tested a model of family positivity, considering the responses given by 200 Mexican interviewees in a research survey. In the model, a series of positive characteristics pertaining to the home (privacy, pleasant temperature, lack of noise, cleanliness) constituted a positive physical environmental factor for the family, whereas positive social family atmosphere comprised indicators of affection and intimacy and a democratic style of relations between the members. The model also included a factor pertaining to sustainable behaviours, created through the reporting of pro-environmental, frugal, altruistic and equitable behaviours. The positive physical and social factors of the family environment produced a second-order factor, identified as ‘Positive family environment’. This second-order construct was saliently and significantly associated with the sustainable behaviour factor, providing empirical support to the theoretical model of environmental positivity in the family.

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental predictability influences the relationship between virtues and antisocial/delinquent behavior

Psychology, Crime & Law, 2019

Despite the notion that characterizes criminals as lacking virtues or character strengths, eviden... more Despite the notion that characterizes criminals as lacking virtues or character strengths, evidence shows that people who engage in antisocial and delinquent behavior are not dissimilar in possessing character strengths as compared to the general population. Character strengths may be used to either do 'good' or 'wrong'; so that the question is, what situation does direct this use to either choice? This study hypothesized environmental predictability may influence a person using their character strengths to inhibit antisocial or delinquent behavior. Two samples were examined, one consisting of individuals convicted of a criminal offense, and the other composed of non-convicted participants. Individuals responded to a series of instruments targeting virtues and character strengths, antisocial and delinquent behaviors, and environmental predictability in their environment-inferred from life-history strategy. In both groups, virtues were negatively and significantly associated with antisocial/delinquent behavior. A further test of the moderating and mediating influence of environmental predictability showed that this environmental dimension modified the aforementioned relationship, decreasing the inhibitory influence of virtues on antisociality. This means that, in predictable contexts, possessing (or lacking) character strengths is not important to inhibiting antisocial behaviors; however, in unpredictable environments virtues are useful to prevent antisociality and delinquent behavior.

Research paper thumbnail of Conductas sustentables y restauración psicológica percibida

This study was aimed at exploring one potential psychological benefit of sustainable behaviors: t... more This study was aimed at exploring one potential psychological benefit of sustainable behaviors: the perceived psychological restoration (PR) associated to engaging in pro-environmental activities at both the physical and social levels. PR involves the recovery of lost psychological resources (attention, positive mood states, psychological wellbeing) mostly caused by attentional fatigue and stress, while sustainable behavior constitutes a set of actions aimed at the protection of natural and social resources. One-hundred- and thirty-seven individuals living in a Northern Mexican city participated in a study assessing four instances of sustainable behavior: altruistic, proecological, frugal, and equitable actions. In addition, four dimensions of a construct related to the perceived psychological restorative effects of sustainable behaviors were measured: being away, fascination, extent and compatibility, assumedly resulting from pro-environmental and pro-social actions. Using structur...

Research paper thumbnail of Housing habitability, stress and family violence

Psyecology, 2011

Resumen Se desarrolló un estudio con el propósito de analizar cómo algunas variables ambientales ... more Resumen Se desarrolló un estudio con el propósito de analizar cómo algunas variables ambientales (temperatura, hacinamiento, ruido, privacidad, profundidad, entre otras) de las viviendas influyen en los niveles de estrés percibido y en la violencia familiar. Para lo anterior se empleó un ...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Sustainable Behavior and its Correlates: A Measure of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Altruistic and Equitable Actions

Sustainability, 2013

Measures of sustainable behavior (SB) usually include the self-report of activities aimed at the ... more Measures of sustainable behavior (SB) usually include the self-report of activities aimed at the conservation of the natural environment. The sustainability notion explicitly incorporates both the satisfaction of human needs and the need of conserving the natural environment. Yet, the assessment of sustainable behaviors rarely considers the protection of the social environment as situation to investigate. In this paper, we propose the use of an instrument assessing SB, which includes the report of pro-ecological and frugal actions in addition to altruistic and equitable behaviors. The responses provided by 807 Mexican undergraduates to a questionnaire investigating those four instances of SB were processed within a structural equation model. Emotional (indignation due to environmental destruction, affinity towards diversity, happiness) and rational (intention to act) factors assumedly linked to sustainable behavior were also investigated. Significant interrelations among pro-ecological, frugal, altruistic and equitable behaviors resulted, suggesting the presence of a higher-order-factor that we identified as SB. This factor, in turn, significantly correlated with the rest of the investigated pro-environmental factors.

Research paper thumbnail of Las virtudes de la humanidad, justicia y moderación y su relación con la conducta sustentable

Revista Latinoamericana de Psicologia, 2014

Reconocimientos: Proyecto financiado por el Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt 179... more Reconocimientos: Proyecto financiado por el Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt 179886). Agradecimientos: Los autores agradecen a Martin Seligman y Neal Mayerson su autorización para utilizar el instrumento VIA de fortalezas y virtudes. También a Kelly Aluise, quien gentilmente nos auxilió en el proceso de codificación y calificación de ese instrumento.

Research paper thumbnail of On the Relationship Between Antisocial and Anti-Environmental Behaviors: An Empirical Study

Population and Environment, 2003

According to relevant literature, anti-environmental behaviors such as wasting natural resources ... more According to relevant literature, anti-environmental behaviors such as wasting natural resources are a type of antisocial behaviors. However, there is limited empirical evidence showing a significant relationship between those kinds of negative actions. The aim of this study was to investigate such relationship. One hundred and fourteen persons living at a Mexican city responded to a questionnaire investigating their tolerance

Research paper thumbnail of The Effect of Quantification on the Accuracy of Proenvironmental Behavior Self-Reports

Journal of Environmental Systems, 1999

One hundred and thirty individuals, living at a Northwestern Mexican city, self-reported A) how f... more One hundred and thirty individuals, living at a Northwestern Mexican city, self-reported A) how frequently (always, often, sometimes, never) they engaged in activities of reuse and recycling, and B) how many reused and recycled objects they had at home. A) was considered as reported frequency of reuse/recycling, while B) was taken as reported quantity of reuse/ recycling. In addition, observations of reused/recycled products were conducted at the individuals' household. Correlation analysis of these three methods were done on the reuse and recycling of several products. These correlations revealed higher associations between observed reuse/recycling and the quantitative self-reports of such behaviors, than between the self-report of frequency and the quantitative self-reports or between the observations and the frequency reporting. The higher correlations of observations and the quantitative verbal report were found only in those cases where the action of reuse/recycling was more salient. A path analysis modeling the correlation between an index of observed reuse/recycling behavior and quantitative and frequency indexes of self-reports replicated the results of the correlations for each separate activity. It was concluded that quantifying the products of self-behavior may enhance the accuracy of self-reports of conservation behavior.

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainable behavior and time perspective: present, past, and future orientations and their relationship with water conservation behavior

… Journal of Psychology, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental and Individual Factors in Adolescent Anti-Sociality: A Structural Model of Mexican Teenagers

International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences, 2013

This study was aimed at analyzing the effects of individual, family, and social factors on adoles... more This study was aimed at analyzing the effects of individual, family, and social factors on adolescent antisociality in Mexico. The sample comprised 184 youths: half of whom were arrested by police, and the other half of whom were teenagers from the general population, matched by age and school grade to the arrested group. Arrested adolescents were interviewed in their confinement centers, while those of the control group were sampled in the school they attended. A structural equation model was used to estimate the relationships between a negative social environment, family violence, negative individual characteristics, and antisociality. Negative social environment had a positive effect on both family violence and individual characteristics; in turn, family violence affected negative individual characteristics, which then influenced antisociality. The results indicated that negative contextual variables facilitate the development of negative individual characteristics, which then pu...

Research paper thumbnail of Psychology of climate change (Psicología del cambio climático)

PsyEcology, 2021

ABSTRACT Anthropogenic climate change, caused by the uncontrolled emission of greenhouse gases, i... more ABSTRACT Anthropogenic climate change, caused by the uncontrolled emission of greenhouse gases, is perhaps the greatest global challenge facing humanity. Psychology is the science of behaviour, so it takes on the task of studying and proposing coping strategies with regard to CC. Two strategies are possible: to mitigate the consequences of CC; and to adapt to those consequences. This article summarizes the main findings of psycho-environmental research related to psychological and situational predictors of coping responses to CC. It reviews the role of cognitive-rational determinants, affective-emotional factors, behavioural capabilities, personality traits and situational factors that facilitate mitigation and adaptive actions to CC. The paper concludes by discussing the role that psychology could play in global CC coping strategies, recognizing that there is a need to increase interest within the psychology community in the pressing problems of climate change.

Research paper thumbnail of Situational factors driving climate change mitigation behaviors: the key role of pro-environmental family

Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2019

Climate change mitigation behaviors (CCMB) are actions required to decrease the greenhouse gas em... more Climate change mitigation behaviors (CCMB) are actions required to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for anthropogenic climate change. The present study examines the influence of social and physical situational factors on CCMB in a sample of two hundred individuals living in a Mexican city. Participants responded to a series of scales focused on assessing CCMB such as household thermic comfort, pro-environmental family orientation, and perceptions of the city's pro-environmental public facilities, services, and community values. All of these situational factors were significantly interrelated, which suggests that they all affect CCMB. Yet, according to a structural model, the only factor that resulted in a significant (and more salient) direct influence on CCMB was proenvironmental family orientation. A second structural model indicated that household thermic comfort, pro-environmental public facilities/services, and pro-environmental public values had an indirect effect on CCMB mediated by pro-environmental family orientation.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Affinity towards Diversity Using the Implicit Association Test and Self-Reports

Sustainability, 2019

Affinity towards diversity (ATD) is the tendency to appreciate the dynamic variety of biophysical... more Affinity towards diversity (ATD) is the tendency to appreciate the dynamic variety of biophysical and socio-cultural scenarios. ATD may reveal a human predisposition to conserve the diversity necessary to guarantee the preservation of human and natural ecosystems. This study expands upon previous studies which employed only self-report measures by introducing a version of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and by using a mediational model to test whether ATD through sustainable (pro-environmental and pro-social) behaviors leads to greater wellbeing. We recruited 119 Mexican students to complete a computerized IAT task and respond to ATD, wellbeing, and sustainable behavior self-report questionnaires. Reliability analyses of the scales utilized showed acceptable indexes. A mediational model was tested to examine whether sustainable behaviors mediate the relationship between ATD and wellbeing. Results demonstrated that affinity towards diversity indirectly predicted wellbeing via the...

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainable Behaviors and Perceived Psychological Restoration

Acta de Investigación Psicológica, 2012

This study was aimed at exploring one potential psychological benefit of sustainable behaviors: t... more This study was aimed at exploring one potential psychological benefit of sustainable behaviors: the perceived psychological restoration (PR) associated to engaging in pro-environmental activities at both the physical and social levels. PR involves the recovery of lost psychological resources (attention, positive mood states, psychological wellbeing) mostly caused by attentional fatigue and stress, while sustainable behavior constitutes a set of actions aimed at the protection of natural and social resources. One-hundred- and thirtyseven individuals living in a Northern Mexican city participated in a study assessing four instances of sustainable behavior: altruistic, proecological, frugal, and equitable actions. In addition, four dimensions of a construct related to the perceived psychological restorative effects of sustainable behaviors were measured: being away, fascination, extent and compatibility, assumedly resulting from pro-environmental and pro-socialactions. Using structural...

Research paper thumbnail of Socio-physical environmental factors and sustainable behaviour as indicators of family positivity / Factores ambientales socio-físicos y conducta sostenible como indicadores de positividad familiar

Psyecology, 2015

Abstract Based on the theory that a positive environment meets human needs whilst at the same tim... more Abstract Based on the theory that a positive environment meets human needs whilst at the same time it stimulates engagement in environmentally protective behaviours, this study empirically tested a model of family positivity, considering the responses given by 200 Mexican interviewees in a research survey. In the model, a series of positive characteristics pertaining to the home (privacy, pleasant temperature, lack of noise, cleanliness) constituted a positive physical environmental factor for the family, whereas positive social family atmosphere comprised indicators of affection and intimacy and a democratic style of relations between the members. The model also included a factor pertaining to sustainable behaviours, created through the reporting of pro-environmental, frugal, altruistic and equitable behaviours. The positive physical and social factors of the family environment produced a second-order factor, identified as ‘Positive family environment’. This second-order construct was saliently and significantly associated with the sustainable behaviour factor, providing empirical support to the theoretical model of environmental positivity in the family.

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental predictability influences the relationship between virtues and antisocial/delinquent behavior

Psychology, Crime & Law, 2019

Despite the notion that characterizes criminals as lacking virtues or character strengths, eviden... more Despite the notion that characterizes criminals as lacking virtues or character strengths, evidence shows that people who engage in antisocial and delinquent behavior are not dissimilar in possessing character strengths as compared to the general population. Character strengths may be used to either do 'good' or 'wrong'; so that the question is, what situation does direct this use to either choice? This study hypothesized environmental predictability may influence a person using their character strengths to inhibit antisocial or delinquent behavior. Two samples were examined, one consisting of individuals convicted of a criminal offense, and the other composed of non-convicted participants. Individuals responded to a series of instruments targeting virtues and character strengths, antisocial and delinquent behaviors, and environmental predictability in their environment-inferred from life-history strategy. In both groups, virtues were negatively and significantly associated with antisocial/delinquent behavior. A further test of the moderating and mediating influence of environmental predictability showed that this environmental dimension modified the aforementioned relationship, decreasing the inhibitory influence of virtues on antisociality. This means that, in predictable contexts, possessing (or lacking) character strengths is not important to inhibiting antisocial behaviors; however, in unpredictable environments virtues are useful to prevent antisociality and delinquent behavior.

Research paper thumbnail of Conductas sustentables y restauración psicológica percibida

This study was aimed at exploring one potential psychological benefit of sustainable behaviors: t... more This study was aimed at exploring one potential psychological benefit of sustainable behaviors: the perceived psychological restoration (PR) associated to engaging in pro-environmental activities at both the physical and social levels. PR involves the recovery of lost psychological resources (attention, positive mood states, psychological wellbeing) mostly caused by attentional fatigue and stress, while sustainable behavior constitutes a set of actions aimed at the protection of natural and social resources. One-hundred- and thirty-seven individuals living in a Northern Mexican city participated in a study assessing four instances of sustainable behavior: altruistic, proecological, frugal, and equitable actions. In addition, four dimensions of a construct related to the perceived psychological restorative effects of sustainable behaviors were measured: being away, fascination, extent and compatibility, assumedly resulting from pro-environmental and pro-social actions. Using structur...

Research paper thumbnail of Housing habitability, stress and family violence

Psyecology, 2011

Resumen Se desarrolló un estudio con el propósito de analizar cómo algunas variables ambientales ... more Resumen Se desarrolló un estudio con el propósito de analizar cómo algunas variables ambientales (temperatura, hacinamiento, ruido, privacidad, profundidad, entre otras) de las viviendas influyen en los niveles de estrés percibido y en la violencia familiar. Para lo anterior se empleó un ...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Sustainable Behavior and its Correlates: A Measure of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Altruistic and Equitable Actions

Sustainability, 2013

Measures of sustainable behavior (SB) usually include the self-report of activities aimed at the ... more Measures of sustainable behavior (SB) usually include the self-report of activities aimed at the conservation of the natural environment. The sustainability notion explicitly incorporates both the satisfaction of human needs and the need of conserving the natural environment. Yet, the assessment of sustainable behaviors rarely considers the protection of the social environment as situation to investigate. In this paper, we propose the use of an instrument assessing SB, which includes the report of pro-ecological and frugal actions in addition to altruistic and equitable behaviors. The responses provided by 807 Mexican undergraduates to a questionnaire investigating those four instances of SB were processed within a structural equation model. Emotional (indignation due to environmental destruction, affinity towards diversity, happiness) and rational (intention to act) factors assumedly linked to sustainable behavior were also investigated. Significant interrelations among pro-ecological, frugal, altruistic and equitable behaviors resulted, suggesting the presence of a higher-order-factor that we identified as SB. This factor, in turn, significantly correlated with the rest of the investigated pro-environmental factors.

Research paper thumbnail of Las virtudes de la humanidad, justicia y moderación y su relación con la conducta sustentable

Revista Latinoamericana de Psicologia, 2014

Reconocimientos: Proyecto financiado por el Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt 179... more Reconocimientos: Proyecto financiado por el Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt 179886). Agradecimientos: Los autores agradecen a Martin Seligman y Neal Mayerson su autorización para utilizar el instrumento VIA de fortalezas y virtudes. También a Kelly Aluise, quien gentilmente nos auxilió en el proceso de codificación y calificación de ese instrumento.

Research paper thumbnail of On the Relationship Between Antisocial and Anti-Environmental Behaviors: An Empirical Study

Population and Environment, 2003

According to relevant literature, anti-environmental behaviors such as wasting natural resources ... more According to relevant literature, anti-environmental behaviors such as wasting natural resources are a type of antisocial behaviors. However, there is limited empirical evidence showing a significant relationship between those kinds of negative actions. The aim of this study was to investigate such relationship. One hundred and fourteen persons living at a Mexican city responded to a questionnaire investigating their tolerance

Research paper thumbnail of The Effect of Quantification on the Accuracy of Proenvironmental Behavior Self-Reports

Journal of Environmental Systems, 1999

One hundred and thirty individuals, living at a Northwestern Mexican city, self-reported A) how f... more One hundred and thirty individuals, living at a Northwestern Mexican city, self-reported A) how frequently (always, often, sometimes, never) they engaged in activities of reuse and recycling, and B) how many reused and recycled objects they had at home. A) was considered as reported frequency of reuse/recycling, while B) was taken as reported quantity of reuse/ recycling. In addition, observations of reused/recycled products were conducted at the individuals' household. Correlation analysis of these three methods were done on the reuse and recycling of several products. These correlations revealed higher associations between observed reuse/recycling and the quantitative self-reports of such behaviors, than between the self-report of frequency and the quantitative self-reports or between the observations and the frequency reporting. The higher correlations of observations and the quantitative verbal report were found only in those cases where the action of reuse/recycling was more salient. A path analysis modeling the correlation between an index of observed reuse/recycling behavior and quantitative and frequency indexes of self-reports replicated the results of the correlations for each separate activity. It was concluded that quantifying the products of self-behavior may enhance the accuracy of self-reports of conservation behavior.

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainable behavior and time perspective: present, past, and future orientations and their relationship with water conservation behavior

… Journal of Psychology, 2006