mt 1

Question 1

what is a “commons dilemma”?

Answer 1

-social dilemma in which noncooperation btwn indivs leads to the deterioration/collapse of a resource
-indivs make decisions out of self interest, eventually causing unintended harm to an entire group

-people sharing a resource that is limited in its capacity to regenerate
-most environmental problems can be thought of as commons dilemmas

Question 2

what are assumptions of commons dilemmas (5), according to Harden? what does this lead to?

Answer 2

1. ecological limits: **w any kind of resource, there are limits to how much it can regenerate **
2. people act rationally in their indiv self-interest
3. people see their indiv impact as trivial
4. when unsustainability is noticed, people try to consume more before others get what is left
5. no communication

-ultimately, inevitable that humans can’t successfully/sustainably share a common resource

Question 3

what are Harden’s 2solutions to commons dilemmas? (2) give examples

Answer 3

1. external coercion (govt regulation)
2. privatization (end commons)

Question 4

what is a social psychological critique to Harden’s assumptions of commons dilemmas?

Answer 4

-humans don’t always act as rational, self-interested individuals:
-often do things on behalf of others
-we’re not just individuals; belong to groups, have relationships

-question becomes one of context + variation

Question 5

what are some solutions to fix commons dilemmas according to psychological studies? give examples

Answer 5

1. communication: talking it out, face to face discussion/written messages, even just imagining a group discussion increases cooperation
2. shifting our identity from “me” to “we”: collective identity, shared norms/trust/reciprocity
   -eg fishing in Turkey: usable location plotted/randomly assigned and rotated; cheating does not happen (obvious; social repercussions)

Question 6

what are characteristics common to successful self governance (6) (Ostrom 1990)? explain

Answer 6

1. populations remain stable: sense of shared past/future (gives motivation for conserving it)
2. norms for interdependence; no one operates completely as individuals
3. relative equality (which also means most indivs affected by rules can participate in shaping them; more likely to follow)
4. no external interference (may be SOME, but not dominantly)
5. systems for monitoring behavior
6. systems for rewards + punishments
   -these lead to a sense of collective identity

-in summary, local ctrl through democratic, participatory systems which works through these 6 characteristics

Question 7

Wynes looked at 12 actions which might have a high impact re: climate change. what are the 4 most substantial in magnitude throughout the developed world? what are 3 more that are also helpful? what are the remaining ones that have moderate/low impact? (5)

Answer 7

1. have one fewer child
2. live car free
3. avoid air travel
4. eat plant-based diet
5. buy green energy
6. buy more efficient car
7. switch electric car to car free

8-12: replace gas w hybrid, wash clothes in cold, recycle, hang dry, upgrade lightbulbs

Question 8

what is the main reason Wynes gives for the importance of behavioral change? explain why this is crucial re: adolescents

Answer 8

-ntl policies take decades to change; behavioral shifts can be more rapid/widespread

-adolescents make choices that will structure the rest of their lives, can also influence household decisions (they are ‘catalytic’)

Question 9

(Wynes) even knowledgeable and willing individuals might not change behavior if there are norms or structural barriers. what does he suggest could address this?

Answer 9

-shifts in public policy (eg carbon tax)

Question 10

explain the issues that Whitmarsh argues exist with the behavioral models used to explain/predict CC adaption/mitigation behaviors. what did this lead to?

Answer 10

-many behavioral models exist to explain/predict CC adaptation/mitigation behaviors
-however, their utility in est meaningful change is limited (too reductive, individualistic, linear, deliberative, blind to environemntal impact)

-this led to focus on suboptimal intervention strategies

Question 11

what does whitmarsh believe should be done instead of the current behavioral models used to explain/predict CC adaption/mitigation behaviors?

Answer 11

-reqs [ ] on high impact behaviors/high-emitting groups, interdisciplinary interventions that address multiple drivers, barriers/contexts of behavior, timing to ensure interventions are targeted to moments of change when habits are weaker