Can Psychology Help Save the World? A Model for Conservation Psychology

Abstract

Conservation psychology is defined as psychological research oriented toward understanding why people help or hurt the natural environment and promoting environmentally sustainable practices (Saunders, 2003). Despite a growing body of research, the field is largely unfamiliar to many psychologists and to those working in the environmental field. Here we make a case for the importance of conservation psychology and describe a model for the social psychology of conservation behavior that focuses on situational context, existing schemas, and personal motives. We hope this model will be useful for policymakers and will prompt new psychological research on the topic of conservation.Conservation psychology is a relatively new field of research, which has the dual aim of understanding why people behave in ways that help or hurt the natural environment and promoting behavior that protects it (Saunders, 2003;Winter, 2004). Topics that could be considered to fall within conservation psychology include studies of conservation behaviors such as recycling (e.g.

Landscape, community, countryside: linking biophysical and social scales in US Corn Belt agricultural landscapes

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Environmental justice and biospheric egalitarianism: reflecting on a normative-philosophical view of human-nature relationship

“…The rise of ethical vegetarianism in the West, the public policies that protect animal rights and the research demonstrating greater similarities between humans and nonhuman animals in cognitive and affective processes all suggests a decrease in the objectification of animals among critical segments of society (Clayton and Brook 2005). Western, developed countries exhibit an increased attention to the importance of green space, and welfare of plants and animals.…”

The psychology of community-based conservation programs: A case study of the Sumatran orangutan

“…Schultz (2011) boldly asserts that conservation outcomes can only be achieved through changing human behaviour. The loss of biodiversity is a problem created and maintained by human behaviours (Clayton & Brook 2005). The study of psychology is well suited to address these problems as it is committed to understanding human behaviour and behavioural interventions (Clayton & Brook 2005).…”

“…The loss of biodiversity is a problem created and maintained by human behaviours (Clayton & Brook 2005). The study of psychology is well suited to address these problems as it is committed to understanding human behaviour and behavioural interventions (Clayton & Brook 2005). There is a growing consensus amongst conservation practitioners that applying psychology to understand human decision-making processes and what motivates and drives human behaviour is integral for effectively addressing wildlife and biodiversity decline (Jones & Young 2004;Jones & Horwich 2005;St John et al 2011;Litchfield 2013).…”

“…The goal of conservation psychology is to promote a healthy and sustainable relationship between humans and nature (Clayton & Myers 2009). A healthy relationship is achieved through promoting behaviour to protect the natural environment with an understanding of why people behave in helpful or harmful manners towards the environment (Clayton & Brook 2005). Changing conservation behaviours can be direct (e.g.…”