5: Conservation Psychology

Question 1

What is conservation psychology

Answer 1

Scientific study of the reciprocal relationships between humans and the rest of nature, with a focus on how to encourage conservation of the natural world

Question 2

Why is conservation psych important

Answer 2

Human behaviour is causing loss of biodiversity
Changing these behaviours is necessary to achieve a more sustainable relationship between humans and the rest of nature

Question 3

What are conservation behaviours at the individual vs group level

Answer 3

Individual = individual behaviours
Group = collective action

Question 4

Difference between conservation behaviours and caring/valuing nature at the individual level

Answer 4

Conservation behaviours: how people behave towards nature (with the goal of creating durable beh change and sustainable relationships)

Caring/valuing nature is your personal connections to animals, places, ecosystems

Question 5

Which environmental issues do people care more about? Which less?

Answer 5

More: pollution of drinking water, rivers, lakes, reservoirs. Contamination of soil and water by radioactivity/toxic waste.

Less: extinction of plant/animal species. Urban sprawl. Global warming.

Question 6

What solutions do the public think need to happen for the environment? What was a low rated solution?

Answer 6

Set higher emissions and pollution standards for industry, spend gov money on solar and wind power, stronger federal environmental regulations

But NOT setting legal limits on amount of energy average consumer uses

Question 7

What is the ‘War in the Woods’

Answer 7

In 1993, public protested the clear cutting (unsustainable harvest) in BC
One of the largest acts of Canadian civil disobedience

Question 8

What is the “new conservation”? Promotes…

Answer 8

Goal is to enhance those natural systems that benefit the widest number of people, especially the poor
Promotes economic development, poverty alleviation

Question 9

Explain the ENGO-funder relationship

Answer 9

Funders alter the opportunity landscape of ENGOs but do not dictate what ENGOs do. Decisions/actions are the result of careful prioritization.

Question 10

Describe the different types of ENGOs, the ENGO ecosystem

Answer 10

Education, research, advocacy, market action, legal
Can be restrained (WWF) or aggressive (greenpeace)

Question 11

Why is conservation messaging important

Answer 11

How you frame them has a strong influence on the type of response you get
How conservation messages influence peoples behaviour is important for advertising

Question 12

What is ‘greenwashing’

Answer 12

Company or organization attempts to hide some facts. They might spend more time and money claiming to be “green” through marketing than actually implementing business practices that minimize environmental impact.

Question 13

What was wrong with Shell’s ad in 2008?

Answer 13

It was greenwashing. “We invest today’s profits in tomorrow’s solutions”. The actual amount of their CO2 waste that they used to grow flowers was very small

Question 14

Five ‘ideas of ethical journalism’

Answer 14

1. Truth and accuracy
2. Independence
3. Fairness and impartiality
4. Humanity
5. Accountability

Question 15

2 key rules for framing environmental messaging for self-enhancers

Answer 15

1. Work within the motivations and inclinations characteristic of humans
2. Treat human cognitive capacity as a resource

Question 16

What are framing effects? E.g.

Answer 16

phenomena psychologists observe whereby preferences among same alternatives vary as a function of how they are expressed
e.g. difference when question is asked in terms of species lost vs saved

Question 17

Why use native species when changing urban planning

Answer 17

Provide habitat to native fauna
Provide greater carbon sequestration
Require less pesticide/herbicide/mowing

Question 18

Other tools conservation psychologists propose to promote conservation behaviour

Answer 18

• alter the cost-benefit ratio (e.g. make public transportation faster and cheaper than driving if we want people to use it)
• changing fundamental values

Question 19

How do we change peoples fundamental values/life experience

Answer 19

• childhood experiences of natural areas
• family members who value environment
• experience destruction of environment
• school-based education, opportunities to take action
• place to care about (fav animal, wild space)