ENVR-7003 Ch 14 - Sustainability [Compatibility Mode]

8/6/2019 ENVR-7003 Ch 14 - Sustainability [Compatibility Mode]

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ENVR-7003:

Environmental Psychology

Limited Resources

Chapter 14

Chapter 14 Sustainability: ManagingLimited Resources - Overview

Sustainability a Commons Dilemma

Common: any desirable resource jointly held by agroup of individuals

Commons dilemma

A choice between self interest and public interest

Social Trap

Research approaches; Grounded Theory Analysis

Climate change & sustainability

Role of environmental psychology

Chapter 14 Sustainability: ManagingLimited Resources - Overview

Influences on Sustainability-related behaviour

The nature of the resource

Individual influences

Grou influences

How the dilemma is framed / structured

The Social Dilemmaof resource management

Related theories

Defection: self-interested behaviour

Chapter 14 Sustainability: ManagingLimited Resources Overview/2

y a ng arves ng more an your s are

By giving (polluting)

Air pollution as a social dilemma

Water conservation as a social dilemma

Energy conservation as a social dilemma

Recycling as a social dilemma

Sustainability

Self-interest versus public interest

Are they compatible or should there be limits toexploiting resources for personal gain?

Commons dilemmas / resource dilemmas

Acting in self-interest or not acting in public interest

is a short-term strategy

Social traps going for immediate gain whenresulting long-term costs will increase steeply

Social dilemmas commons dilemmas & socialtraps; individual & group interests at odds

Sustainability /2

Research strategies

Field experiments, field studies difficult

Control & ethical issues

Simulations Ifdefectoracts in self-interest & others act in public

interest, defector gets highest payoff

If all cooperate, everyone receives higher payoff than ifall defect

If all defect, the commons are destroyed

Grounded theory analysis examines thinking as onefaces a social / resource dilemma


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Sustainability /3

Climate change & sustainability

Unsustainable human defection behaviour causesnegative outcomes from poverty, to famine, toillnesses, to extreme weather, to species loss, to war

Naysayers lower concern for nature & self-efficacy

Cooperative education helps raise these in children

Role of environmental psychology

Influences on sustainable behaviour

The resource

value, threat of others v nature, clarity of supply,

personality v speed of threat, already threatened?

, ,

Structure of the dilemma Rules & regulations

Reinforcement for cooperation, penalties fordefection

Individual Commons Participants &Sustainable / Cooperative Behaviour

Age

Age 3, act for personal gain

5-14, increased understanding of cooperations value

Age 16-20, decreasing cooperation

en er no so mpor an

Women MAY be more cooperative

Women more likely to give moral reasons for cooperating

Personality , values, dispositions

1/nth personality: tends to cooperate (versus narcissist)

Social valuescooperative, competitive, individualism

Egocentrism, future / big picture orientation

Individual Commons Participants &Sustainable / Cooperative Behaviour

Experience & Knowledge

Understanding how ones behaviours affect thecommons, understanding the commons dilemma

Knowledge & experience with this improve cooperation

Social uncertaintyhow will others harvest?

Commons Participants as a Group &Sustainable / Cooperative Behaviour

Conformity, especially when understanding /experience with commons dilemma is limited

Group size less cooperation with more

harvesters or more sub-groups among harvesters Larger groupssless impact & visibility of defection

Trust has little impact in groups of 7+

But interacts with gender, rate of resource depletion

Cooperation increases with

More group identity/sense of community

More friendship & equality among group members

Customs, norms & ground rules & circumstancescan improve cooperation / commons management

Payoffs, rewards, punishments that favour cooperation

Ground rule complexity reduces understanding &

Structure of the Commons Dilemma

cooperation, ut w at is t e cost o en orcement?

Advocating the MORAL choice helps (enlightened action)

Communication improves cooperation / resource mgt

Improves trust & group identity, clarity of paypffs, mutualagreements & penalties for not following them, public &individual commitment to cooperate

Public disclosure of individual harvest amounts helps


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Harvest alternatives mixed results

Resource partitioning Equity & equality

Structure of the Commons Dilemma /2

Desire for freedom / freedom of choice

Desire to avoid being a sucker

Desire self-interest

Barriers to Cooperation

Mistrust of others

Social Dilemma of Energy Conservation

Central to sustainability

Business & government biggest energy users

Lots of room for residential energy conservation

-behaviour?

Where to aim the behaviour change efforts? Who alreadyis a conserver, and when / where?

Important conserver attitudes Belief that energy use is key to comfort & health

Are energy savings worth conservation effort?


Is the energy crisis real?

High & low income earners conserve more

Home owners increase energy efficiency in home, butdont change energy use behaviours

Simple living advocates & those with energy supplyconcerns conserve more

Older people & those with kids use more energy

How to increase energy conservation

Appeals from authorities

E.g. Jimmy Carters appeal to US residents in 1977

Educational campaigns

Must go BEYOND literature distribution

School-based pro rams


Media campaigns

Public commitment remember shower water conservationvideo?

Feedback

Goal setting

Modelling

Financial rewards

Home audits

Davis, California development of energy-savinghouses for energy-conscious people

Natural features to reduce energy consumption

Natural ventilation patterns


Reduction of ambient heat sources / paving

Retention of pre-existing orchard, income funds homeownersassociation

Water conservation, defensible space, community playground

Developers live in community


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Whats Happening Around US?

The Solar Decathlon

Design and build attractive, cost effective,energy efficient solar powered homes

ttp: www.so ar ecat on.gov

http://www.solardecathlon.ca/

http://www.solardecathlon.gov/videos.html

http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Light-Fanshawe-Team/192270390787938

Whats happening Around US?

Open Architecture Network

open source community dedicated toimproving living conditions using innovative

http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/

Cameron Sinclair

Investigate recycling & conservation practices & programs atthe College

Colleges approach to conservation

Energy? Paper? Other substances?

What gets recycled? What doesnt?

Lab Activity 9 (Chapter 14)

Cost to the college?

Who is in charge?

Talk to them or email them

Facilities Management?

Student Unions approach / stance

How are conservation & recycling behaviours promoted?

Conclusions; recommendations for reducing our footprint?

Reflective Journal

As you get ready to graduate and start acareer how do you plan on incorporatingthe ideas of sustainability into your dreamob? Discuss 3 thin s ou lan ho e todo.

Due Monday April 11

Documents

ENVR-7003 Ch 14 - Sustainability [Compatibility Mode]