The case of sustainable development and the surfers paradox : Breaking through a counter reflexivity

The case of sustainable development and the surfers paradox : Breaking through a counter reflexivity | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article The case of sustainable development and the surfers paradox : Breaking through a counter reflexivity Gregory Borne This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9052019/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This paper advances debates on sustainable development by extending a theoretical framework centered on counter reflexivity and applying it to an empirical case study of ocean surfing. It explores how immersion in nature mediates the relationship between environmental risk, awareness, and action, addressing persistent tensions in translating sustainability discourse into behavioural change. Surfing is examined as a paradoxical practice in which heightened environmental awareness coexists with individualistic traits, offering a novel lens through which to explore these dynamics. The research is theoretically positioned within, and contributes to, debates on risk society and reflexive modernity, drawing on survey-based empirical evidence to examine surfers’ perceptions of risk, responsibility, and environmental behaviour. The findings indicate that surfing can foster increased environmental awareness and action, suggesting that nature-based activities may play a valuable role in overcoming counter-reflexive responses and supporting progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Environmental Policy Scientific Communication Sociology Psychology Nanoscience sustainable development surfing environmental behaviour risk society reflexive modernity counter reflexivity Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9052019","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":601970428,"identity":"53ba8f11-7e25-4de3-af3e-ee5ce680885d","order_by":0,"name":"Gregory Borne","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABCUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLACxgYQyXzgA0MBiMEDEZUgrIUtcQaDAYgmXguPIXFa5KMPH37BuMMm35y952PDD4Ntcgb3ew8w/KhhSJzZgF2L4bm0NAvGM2mWO3vObmzsMbhtbHCML4Gx5xhD4mwcthj28JgZMLYdNjC4kbv9AY/B7cQNx3gMGHgbGBLn4dTC/w2i5f6bh41/oFoY/+LRIs/Dw/wAYgsPYzPMFmaQLbgcZsDDZsaQeCbNwOBMmmGzDNAvksdyDA7LHJMwxuV9+R7mxx8+7rAxMDh++GHjm4rbcnyHzxg+fFNjIzvjAA5bDjCwSSSgix7AF5HyDQzMH3DKjoJRMApGwSgAAQAxsl7bM8aDKAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8227-9679","institution":"Falmouth University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Gregory","middleName":"","lastName":"Borne","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-06 15:13:57","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9052019/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9052019/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105751815,"identity":"e8c250db-0801-4de9-a10a-d2da8ae2baf3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-30 15:45:41","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":642516,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"BorneSurfersParadoxManuscript1.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9052019/v1_covered_5065d8e1-5e68-4320-a255-db5e6ca33e24.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe case of sustainable development and the surfers paradox : Breaking through a counter reflexivity\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"sustainable development, surfing, environmental behaviour, risk society, reflexive modernity, counter reflexivity","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9052019/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9052019/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis paper advances debates on sustainable development by extending a theoretical framework centered on counter reflexivity and applying it to an empirical case study of ocean surfing. 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