Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune
Department of Psychology
Semester-I
EP: 111- Psychology of Sustainability
(Major Elective)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To acquaint the students with:
1) The concept of sustainability, Sustainable Development Goals and patterns of human
environment interactions with reference to sustainable behaviour.
2) The dimensions of sustainability and Indian perspective of sustainability.
3) The challenges to sustainability and sustainable behaviour.
4) The application of cognitive and positive psychology principles in achieving sustainable behaviour.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The students will be able to:
1) Understand the concept of Sustainability and Sustainable behaviour from a
Psychological Lens.
2) Apprehend the Indian perspective of sustainability.
3) To apply the principles of cognitive and affective processes to promote sustainability
4) To apply principles of positive psychology to promote sustainability.
1.0. INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY OF SUSTAINABILITY [15]
1.1. Meaning and Nature of Sustainability,
1.2. The Sustainable Development Goals
1.3. Dimensions of Sustainability: Psychological, Social, Ecological, Environmental and
Philosophical.
1.4. Importance of Sustainability and Challenges to Sustainability
1.5. Indian Perspective of Sustainability
2.0. CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABILITY & PSYCHOLOGY AS A SUSTAINABLE
SCIENCE [15]
2.1. Challenges: Carrying capacity & Overconsumption
2.2. Ecological footprint & Environment Risk Perception,
2.3. Environment and Quality of Life
2.4. Psychology & Sustainability: Environment Psychology, Ecological Psychology & Conservation Psychology
2.5. Role of Psychology in Promoting Sustainability
3.0. PSYCHOLOGICAL DRIVERS TO ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR [15]
3.1. Environmental Attitudes & Environmental Behaviour
3.2. Role of Norms, Beliefs and Values in Environmental Behaviour
3.3. Knowledge of Environment
3.4. Habits and Social Practices Leading to Environmental Behaviour
3.5. Role of Cognition and Emotions
4.0. APPLICATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY TO SUSTAINABILITY [15]
4.1. Psychology & Pro environment behaviour: Efficacy behaviour, Eco-system
Behaviour, Civic Behaviour
4.2. Motivating Green Behaviour: Ecological Footprint Feedback, Emotion Contagion
and Persuasion.
4.3. Fostering Mindfulness, Compassion, Resilience, Gratitude and Hope
4.4. Motivating Green Behaviour Through Principles of Learning & Memory
4.5. Psychology in Environmental Policy Advocacy
BOOKS FOR READINGS:
1. Farr, D (2018) Sustainable Nation: Urban Design Patterns for the Future. Wiley
2. Scott, A, B., Amel, E.L and Koger, S.M., Manning, C.M (2017) Psychology for
Sustainability. 5th Edition, Routledge.
3. Jones, R. G (2014) Psychology of Sustainability: An Applied Perspective. Routledge.
4. Manning C (2007) Psychology of Sustainable Behaviour.
5. Green Signals: Ecology, Growth & Democracy in India. Jairam Ramesh, Oxford University press.
6. Snyder, C.R and Lopez, S. J (2005) Handbook of Positive Psychology, Oxford University Press.
7. Tankha, G. (2017). Environmental Attitudes and Awareness: A Psychosocial Perspective. United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
8. Clayton, S. (2012). The Oxford handbook of environmental and conservation psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
9. Clayton, S., Devine-Wright, P., Stern, P. C., Whitmarsh, L., Carrico, A., Steg, L., Swim, J., & Bonnes, M. (2015). Psychological research and global climate change. Nature Climate Change, 5(7), 640-646.
10. Bonnes, M., & Secchiaroli, G. (1995). Environmental Psychology: A Psycho-social Introduction. London: SAGE.
11. Groot, J. I. M., Berg, A. E. van den, & Steg, L. (2012). Environmental Psychology: An Introduction. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.
12. Bell, P.A., Greene, T. C., Fisher, J.D., & Baum A. (2001). Environmental Psychology. (Vth edition) Wadsworth Group/ Thomason Learning, 10 Davis Drive Belmont CA, U.S.A