Consumption and sustainability: themes in applied psychology adressing consumer and environmental behavior

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

1. Oral presentation

2. Review and critical analysis of scientific texts and articles,

3. Group discussion

4. Exercises in class for training and transfer of knowledge (ex: stimulus ratings, observations, data collection, construction or response to questionnaires or interviews, analysis of diffusion materials)

5. Synthesis Assignments _ on intervention models and practices;

6. Problem-solving Assignments_ bibliographic research and application to environmental problems / behaviors

Learning Outcomes

1.         Identify environmental problems and their societal and behavioral factors

2.         Apply psychological theory to understand consumer behaviors and behavioral change to reduce environmental impacts; understand interdisciplinary relations in this field:

a.         Identify psychological processes underlying those behaviors and relations with the environment.

b.         Identify frameworks and the psychological theory underlying research on environmentally relevant behaviors and behavioral change.

3.         Be able to analyze academic texts (eg research reports) and media content, and discuss their theoretical and empirical support, and implications for change.

4.         Transfer of knowledge and critical analysis of experience, through exercises, e.g. answering questionnaires, interviews, analyzing dissemination materials.

5.         Bibliographic search of current research subordinated to specific problems and themes.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1.Concept sustainable development. Perspectives for psychology for sustainability.
2.Societal factors and environmental problems
3.Cultural and moral accounts of pro-environmental behavior: the New Ecological Paradigm; The Values-Beliefs-Norms Model.
4.Human response to nature: Biophilia, hypotheses of effects of exposure to natural stimuli
5.Moral thought in judgments of damage to environment
6.Environmental and pro-environmental behaviors. Steps in characterizing and modifying behavs.
7.Diverse factors in explanatory models of behavior and behav. change: social norms, costs and benefits (Theory of Planned Action), Affect, Habit, Contextual factors.
8.Integrative theories/ models: Goal Frame Theory;
9.Intervention based in psychological principles in the context of social marketing, organizational intervention, environmental education, institutional campaigns, and social advocacy. The Stage model of self-regulated behavior change in environmentally relevant behavior

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria São João Castilho Breda

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Research work: 30.0%
Laboratory work or Field work: 30.0%
Synthesis work: 40.0%

Bibliography

•Clayton, S. & Myers, G. (2015). Conservation Psychology: understanding and promoting human care for nature 2ed. Wiley-Blackwell.

•Steg,L.. Van den Berg, A.E. & de Groot, J.I. (eds) (2013). Environmental Psychology: An Introduction. Madden & Oxford: British Psychological Society and John Wiley & Sons.

•Gardner, G.T. & Stern, P.C. (2002). Environmental Problems and Human Behavior. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions.

•Jackson, T. (2005). Motivating Sustainable Consumption. Report to the Sustainable Development Research Network. Univ. of  Surrey.

•Breda, SJ, Lopes, M. & Mónico, L. (2017). Cultural values and the role of trust in agents and technology in consideration of the dynamic prices electric grid and efficiency at home. Proceedings of the 23rd International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference. Bogotá, Colombia.