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CS92PROD
Psychology of Environmental Issues
PSYC 318
Fall 2017 not offered

Environmental issues, such as climate change and the overconsumption of resources, are some of the most pressing problems facing our world. Many environmental psychologists specifically investigate how people think about and respond to these global challenges. In this course, we will discuss how psychological mechanisms help explain the roots of various environmental problems and can also be used when designing interventions to address these issues. We will focus on both individual processes (e.g., cognitive processes, motivation, behavior change, connection with nature) and social processes (e.g., cultural worldviews, group relationships, media messages, social movements). Broader questions addressed in this class include: Why are people generally unconcerned about climate change? Why is material consumption highly valued in American society? What motivates individuals to become involved in environmental social movements? Throughout the semester, students will practice applying the concepts learned in class to a specific environmental issue of their choice.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS PSYC
Course Format: SeminarGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (PSYC)

Last Updated on MAR-28-2024
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