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Psychological science, conservation, and environmental sustainability
Author(s) -
Clayton Susan,
Litchfield Carla,
Geller E Scott
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1890/120351
Subject(s) - sustainability , psychological intervention , conservation psychology , environmental degradation , psychology , environmental resource management , work (physics) , environmental psychology , environmental planning , ecology , social psychology , engineering , environmental science , biodiversity , biology , mechanical engineering , psychiatry
Because environmental degradation has the potential to negatively affect mental and social well‐being, environmental sustainability is highly relevant to psychologists, who have a tradition of interventions designed to change behavior. Although many psychologists are already using psychological knowledge and tools to protect environmental resources, their efforts are neither widely known nor extensively utilized in applied conservation settings. Here, we describe some barriers to effective conservation interventions adopted by psychologists and conservation professionals alike, and provide suggestions to both disciplines for more productive engagement. We also present an illustrative example of psychological science applied to promote environmental conservation in a zoological park setting. Our aim is to raise awareness of the possibilities for such collaboration and to urge conservation professionals and psychologists to work together in order to proactively address pressing environmental challenges.