HEN627 Ecopsychology: Relationship to nature and the environment

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2016
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Jan Krajhanzl, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Veronika Išová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
each even Wednesday 13:30–16:45 M117
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
A. Students know the importance of psychological aspects of human-nature (environment) interactions. B. Students are familiar with theoretical and terminological basis of conservation psychology. C. Students are more sensible of people's experiences connected to relationship towards nature. D. Students can better analyze barriers and benefits which influence environmental behaviour and can also predict people's environmental behaviour. E. Students can apply acquired knowledge of environmental education, social marketing campaings and mass communication of environmental issues. F. Students can better understand their own relationships towards nature and environment.
Syllabus
  • • 1.+2. How people experience contact with nature I. Variety of contact with nature. Adaptation to natural conditions. Profits from contact with nature vs. nature deficit disorder. • 3.+4. How people experience contact with nature II. Environmetal sensitivity. Wilderness effect. • 5.+6. How people perceive environmental problems? Risk assessment. Threatening emotions. Ego defenses. Coping strategies. • 7.+8. Why people don't behave proenvironmentally I. Motivations for environmental protection. Barriers and benefits of proenvironmental behaviour. The discrepancies among attitudes, values and behaviour. Tragedy of commons as a kind of social trap. • 9.+10. Why people don't behave proenvironmentally II. Applied behavioural analysis vs. models of proenvironmental behaviour (KAB, TPB, TRA, NAT, REB, VBN). • 11.+12. How to describe personal relationships towards nature and environment Characteristics of personal relationships towards nature. Environmental identity. Ecologist as a social role. • 13.+14. In conclusion: Additional information about the field of study Conservation psychology and ecopsychology in the Czech Republic. Environmental psychology. Important resources of information. Suggestions for further studies and activities.
Literature
  • The Oxford handbook of environmental and conservation psychology. Edited by Susan D. Clayton. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012, xix, 700. ISBN 9780199733026. info
  • KOGER, Susan M. and Deborah Du Nann WINTER. The psychology of environmental problems : psychology for sustainability. 3rd ed. New York: Psychology Press, 2010, xxii, 482. ISBN 9781848728097. info
  • CLAYTON, Susan D. and Gene MYERS. Conservation psychology : understanding and promoting human care for nature. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2009, 253 s. ISBN 9781405176781. info
  • WINTER, Deborah Du Nann and Susan M. KOGER. Psychologie environmentálních problémů. Translated by Jiří Foltýn. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2009, 295 s. ISBN 9788073675936. info
  • Identity and the natural environment : the psychological significance of nature. Edited by Susan Opotow - Susan D. Clayton. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2003, vi, 353. ISBN 0262532069. info
  • GARDNER, Gerald T. and Paul C. STERN. Environmental problems and human behavior. 2nd ed. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2002, xv, 371. ISBN 0536686335. info
  • Handbook of environmental psychology. Edited by Robert B. Bechtel - Arza Churchman. New York: J. Wiley & Sons, 2002, xiii, 722. ISBN 0471405949. info
  • BELL, Paul A. Environmental psychology. 5th ed. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt College Publishers, 2001, xvii, 634. ISBN 0155080644. info
Teaching methods
Presentations, problem tasks solving, experience sharing , discussions, model research from the field of conservation psychology, self-experiencing activities, individual readings and homework.
Assessment methods
1. Active participation (maximum 1 absence from 7 seminars; a oral agreement in a case of longer illness), 2. Readings as ongoing preparations for seminars, 3. Small test(s) during the semester (according to the situation), 4. Short essay, 5. Final written exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2016, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2016/HEN627