Course

Text Books / References

Textbook

1. The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology (One chapter, Chapter 1)
2. Clayton, Susan D., ed. The Oxford handbook of environmental and conservation psychology. Oxford University Press, 2012.
3. Environmental Psychology: An Introduction (7 chapters, Chapter 13 to 19)
4. Steg, Linda Ed, Agnes E. Van Den Berg, and Judith IM De Groot. Environmental psychology: An introduction. BPS Blackwell, 2013.

References

1. Stern, P. C., & Dietz, T. (n.d.). A Value-Belief-Norm Theory of Support for Social movements. The case of environmentalism.pdf.
2. Stern, P. C. (2000). New Environmental Theories: Toward a Coherent Theory of Environmentally Significant Behavior. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 407–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00175
3. Han, H. (2015). Travelers’ pro-environmental behavior in a green lodging context: Converging value-belief-norm theory and the theory of planned behavior. Tourism Management, 47, 164–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.09.014
4. Kollmuss, A., & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the Gap: Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behavior Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620220145401
5. Klöckner, C. A. (2013). A comprehensive model of the psychology of environmental behaviour—A meta-analysis. Global Environmental Change, 23(5), 1028–1038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.05.014
6. Steg, L., Bolderdijk, J. W., Keizer, K., & Perlaviciute, G. (2014). An integrated framework for encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: The role of values, situational factors and goals. Journal of Environmental psychology, 38, 104-115.
7. Steg, L., & Vlek, C. (2009). Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: An integrative review and research agenda. Journal of environmental psychology, 29(3), 309-317.
8. Stern, P. C., Dietz, T., & Kalof, L. (1993). Value orientations, gender, and environmental concern. Environment and behavior, 25(5), 322-348.
9. De Groot, J. I., & Steg, L. (2009). Morality and prosocial behavior: The role of awareness, responsibility, and norms in the norm activation model. The Journal of social psychology, 149(4), 425-449. 86
10. Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational behavior and human decision processes, 50(2)

This course focuses on the interconnectedness of human behavior and environmental sustainability also the source of our current environmental crisis through the lens of environmental psychology.Solutions to climate change and environmental degradation caused by human activities ultimately boils down to behavior change, to solve the behavioral problems, and create new proenvironmental behaviors, first we need to answer questions like what is environmentally significant behavior? How behavior is formed? And what are the most important factors that influence behavior?. The objective of this course is to equip a student to answer such questions through scientific understanding and critically analysing the existing behavioral models, theories and reflecting on real-life scenarios

Course Objectives

1. Introduce the foundations of environmental sustainability and environmental psychology
2. To understand the behavioral roots of environmental problems
3. To understand what is pro-environmental behavior
4. Learn about both psychological and external factors that leads to pro-environmental behavior

Course syllabus

• Unit I – Basics of environmental sustainability
  • Concept, definition and importance of sustainability
• Unit II – Foundations of environmental Psychology
  • Basic concepts and evolution of environmental psychology
  • Source of our current environmental crisis
• Unit III – Thinking critically about Behavior models of Pro environmental behavior
  • Rational models
  • Norm activation models (Morality)
  • Hybrid models
  • Important factors influencing behavior
• Unit IV – Gender & contextual factors
  • Ecofeminism
  • Behavior models and gender
  • Nudge

Course outcome:

1. Critically review the possibilities and constraints of behavior change strategies to foster pro-environmental behavior in communities
2. Apply behavioral models for the scientific analysis of environment related behaviors
3. Identify lever points or critical components which has the highest influence in environment related behavior in a community