Abstract:
The paucity of literature on the perceptions and attitudes of South Africans
on recycling, reusing, and reducing the number of resources used
suggests the need for an exploration of these environmental issues. The
current energy situation in South Africa may impact on South Africans’
perceptions on quality of life issues that are thought to accompany the
use of renewable energy sources such as solar power. This research
aims to explore the attitudes and perceptions of environmentalists
towards renewable energy, and to explore the lack of implementation
from a psychological perspective. Attitudes and perceived implications
for quality of life were explored by means of in-depth interviews with eight
participants. A three stage qualitative analysis of the data culminated in
six pattern categories: These are: participants’ learned attitude toward
the environment, the role of responsibility and its influence on perceived
quality of life, risk perception as inhibitor of action, renewable energy and
the perception of self, renewable energy as available medium, and the
possibility of change of attitude toward renewable energy sources. Each
of these categories is discussed in depth. Specific recommendations for
future research are outlined.
