I am undertaking research into concern for the natural environment and I wondered if anyone could suggest models of environmental concern that I should investigate? My main interests are concerned with the psychological interaction of humans with the natural environment.
Jones, N. A., H. Ross, T. Lynam, P. Perez, and A. Leitch. 2011. Mental models: an interdisciplinary synthesis of theory and methods. Ecology and Society 16(1): 46. [online] URL: http://www. ecologyandsociety.org/vol16/iss1/art46/
Casimir, Michael J. (ed.) 2009.Culture and the changing Environment. Uncertainty, cognition and risk Management in cross-cultural perspective. Berghahn Publishers (This is an edition of case studies from europe, Asia and Africa covering anthropology, psychology and geography)
Hi Paul,
I'm teaching a course this term on the Psychology of Environmental Stewardship. I've attached the syllabus. Apparently I can't attached more than one file. So I'll send other stuff in the next messages.
I wrote a short piece that compares a few different theories-of-change. I tried to highlight what interventions promote durable behavior change.
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/259495876_Slow_wins_Patience_perseverance_and_behavior_change
I've also attached some slides I use in reviewing some of the common models of behavior change. The last slide compares a few models and shows that they may be using the same constructs but with slightly different names. (A version of the "toothbrush problem." No one want to use someone else's toothbrush).
Article Slow wins: Patience, perseverance and behavior change
An excellent overview of contrasting conceptual approaches to human relationship with environment is Pete Hay's MAJOR CURRENTS IN WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL THOUGHT (2000).
A couple of ideas:
Osbaldiston, R. & J. P. Schott (2012). Environmental sustainability and behavioral science: Meta-analysis of proenvironmental behavior experiments. Environment and Behavior. 44(2): 257-299.
Abrahamse, W., Steg, L., Vlek, C., & Rothengatter, T. (2005). A review of intervention studies aimed at household energy conservation. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25: 273-291.
I would also mention the phenomenological work on the topic, including phenomenological geographer Edward Relph's concept of environmental humility, arising out of Heidegger's "sparing and preserving." One of my interests is Goethe's way of science (an early phenomenology of the natural world) as a means for evoking a deeper attitude of caring for and revering the natural environment--see GOETHE'S WAY OF SCIENCE: A PHENOMENOLOGY OF NATURE (SUNY Press, 1998).
I'd recommend conservation psychology research,. e.g. Paul Stern, Thomas Dietz...
I finished second sci-fi fiction of a trilogy called Southern Reach. a 2014 novel by Jeff VanderMeer which is a top selling title.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authority_(novel)
I enjoyed reading it but the third one 'Acceptance', I couldn't quite follow the plot/style. But my 'literature' might not be what you have in mind :-)
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