Course Description
Examines the relationship of humans to nature. It also investigates how the split between Western culture and nature relates to modern psychopathology and environmental destruction. Pre-requisites: PSYC1310 or permission of instructor.
Required Textbooks & Materials
Steg, L. & De Groot, J. I. M. (2019). Environmental psychology: An introduction (2nd ed.). Wiley.
This textbook is FREE and is accessed as a PDF through the D2L site for this course.
Course Purpose & Goals
This 3-credit hour course will focus on the connection human beings have with nature and natural the environment, how our actions shape the environment, and how the environment impacts our psychological well-being. The course will first focus on the reciprocal relationship between nature and human well-being and the positive impact that natural environments have on our mental, physical, and social well-being. The course will next focus on factors influencing pro-environmental and sustainable behaviors. Finally, we will move toward discussion of psychological theory and research that provides a basis for understanding and changing unsustainable behaviors.
Course Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, students are expected to:
Describe what an ecological footprint is, how it relates to everyday behaviors, and to understand their own ecological footprint.
Describe what environmental and sustainability pscyhology is and the research methodologies used to study environmental and sustainability psychology.
How Western thought influences people's relationships with nature and the natural environment and how that mindset has contributed to climate change and the Earth's current environmental crisis.
Explain the mental, physical, and social health benefits of exposure to aspects of nature and to the natural world and how nature can influence quality of life indicators.
Understand and describe why people experience ambivalence toward nature and the natural world.
Explain how environmental cues, values, social norms, emotions, social dilemmas, group processes, and habits impact and influence pro-environmental and environmentally sustainable behaviors.
Describe how informational strategies, rewards and penalties, and technology can encourage pro-environmental and environmentally sustainable mindsets and behaviors.
Explain how climate change and environmental policies (at least within the United States) disproportionately affect some groups more than others and why.