ENS237 Ecopsychology and the Crisis of Relationship

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2008
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Brendan Hill (lecturer), RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D. (deputy)
RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ivona Tolarová
Timetable
Mon 13. 10. 18:00–19:30 P22, Tue 14. 10. 18:00–19:30 P22, Wed 15. 10. 18:00–19:30 U32, Thu 16. 10. 12:00–13:30 U43, Fri 17. 10. 12:00–13:30 P22, Mon 20. 10. 18:00–19:30 P22, Tue 21. 10. 18:00–19:30 P22, Wed 22. 10. 12:00–13:30 exP21, Thu 23. 10. 12:00–13:30 U43, Fri 24. 10. 12:00–13:30 P22, Wed 29. 10. 18:00–19:30 U32
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 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 0/40, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The sciences of community (ecology) and mind (psychology) have not had a close relationship. However we now appreciate that human ideas and behaviour are relentlessly degrading the environment which sustains life - an evidently self-destructive path. We increasingly understand what damage we are doing, but struggle to comprehend why we continue to do so, and how to change our actions. This course asks students to consider a variety of relevant perspectives within and beyond psychology ranging from the subjective and personal, to the theoretical. It asks whether and why we should care about the 'environmental crisis' which, it might be argued, is actually a 'human crisis' of our relationship with nature; and what we might do about it and how.
Aims and objectives:
- to understand the historical context and cultural assumptions that influence our relationship with the natural world;
- to consider ways in which, in Western industrial culture, we may have become alienated from nature;
- to understand the connections between ecology and psychology and the contributions from each to ecopsychology;
- to consider how ecopsychology links with and includes both intellectual disciplines and experiential dimensions;
- to review current thinking on how psychology can be applied to understanding behaviour of the human species in relation to the environment;
- to have a grasp of some of the existing research that is relevant to the field of ecopsychology;
- to explore ways of expanding concepts of self and consciousness to include an awareness of interdependence, and experience some tools and techniques from deep ecology and ecotherapy;
- to inquire into the spiritual elements and implications of ecopsychology;
- to explore and deepen your personal relationship with nature, and what it means in your life;
- to be involved in ongoing thinking, debate, development and research and to make a contribution as this new discipline evolves Learning outcomes;
By the end of this Module you will have:;
- an appreciation of ecopsychology as a new interdisciplinary field; it's scope, antecedents, limitations, and potential uses;
- an understanding of the various strands within ecopsychology and the relationship between them;
- an appreciation of the postulates and evidence for the main tenets of evolutionary and environmental psychology, together with an understanding of how these articulate with the principal understandings of developmental and education psychologies, with particular emphasis on environmental education;
- an understanding of the variety of ways in which human societies situate themselves psychologically and mythologically in relation to the natural world;
- developed a deepened personal and experiential understanding of your own relationship with nature;
- basic skills in the facilitation of experiential methods aimed at creating closer and more highly aware psychological relationships with nature;
an ability to make an informed contribution to the evolving debates within ecopsychology, to critically evaluate the themes and arguments, drawing on empirical research where relevant.
Syllabus
  • Telling your Earth Story - A personal enquiry into relationship with nature; Using the environment for education:
  • b) What on Earth is ecopsychology?
  • c) Evolutionary & Cross-cultural Perspectives
  • d) Environmental Psychology and our reactions to the world around us
  • e) Psychology of environmental crises and environmental action
  • f) Psychological Models related to ecopsychology
  • g) Deep Ecology and the 'Ecological Self'
  • h) Consumerism and the 'Empty Self'
  • i) Nature therapy
Literature
  • WINTER, Deborah Du Nann. Ecological psychology : healing the split between planet and self. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 1996, xxii, 314. ISBN 0805846255. info
  • Ecopsychology : restoring the earth, healing the mind. Edited by Theodore Roszak - Mary E. Gomes - Allen K. Kanner. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1995, xxiii, 338. ISBN 9780871564061. info
  • The making of a counter culture : reflections on the technocratic society and its youthful opposition. Edited by Theodore Roszak. 1st ed. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995, xlii, 303. ISBN 0520201221. info
  • WICKER, Allan W. An introduction to ecological psychology. Monterey: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 1979, xii, 228 s. ISBN 0-8185-0284-3. info
Assessment methods
Assessment - This course is assessed on a pass/ fail (retake) basis. To pass, you must complete all three of the following.
Attendance at the course - You must be present at a minimum of 50% at least 5 of 9) of the course sessions, unless you receive prior permission for absence.
Journal - As instructed at the first session, you will be asked to keep a brief personal journal during the course in either English or Czech focusing on your thoughts and reflections on your relationship with nature. As this may contain personal material which you understandably may not wish to share with others, you must show Dr Hill at the end of the teaching period that you have kept this journal, but it is up to you whether you wish it to be read for one-toone feedback purposes.
Paper - You are asked to write a 1200 word paper in English by 15th January 2009 using one of the following two titles. It must be sent to Dr Hill via the course web site, and you will receive in return a pass/ fail (resubmit) grade and qualitative feedback. If you do not submit this paper within the deadline or have an extension granted for extenuating circumstances and gain a pass grade, you will not pass the course.
Ecopsychology paper titles (choose one):
1) “Modern industrial societys relationship with nature is not a factor in the origin or the solution of our environmental problems.”
2) “Compare and review the arguments for and against a selection of techniques for reconnecting individuals who live in cities with nature.”
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2008/ENS237