The myth of apathy: psychosocial dimensions of environmental degradation

This thesis presents a psychosocial investigation into environmental subjectivity, through the lens of the myth of apathy. The central argument is for the acknowledgement of unconscious processes, in particular defence mechanisms, and themes of loss, mourning and ambivalence, in how environmental issues are perceived, experienced and responded to. The research draws from qualitative fieldwork in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 2007, involving three in-depth interviews with ten participants selected through the use of an online survey. Surveys were sent out to 1067 residents in Green Bay, 163 responded. The interviews were conducted using a dialogic, relational interview approach, and the analysis based on psychoanalytic qualitative research methods. The analysis centres on several core themes as emerging in the data and in the context of industry in Green Bay: loss, mourning and melancholia; ambivalence and splitting; and concern, care and reparation. The data analysis presents two case studies and four analytic thematic chapters. Based on psychoanalytic clinical work on reparation, the thesis presents a case for the incorporation of creativity and concern in the practice of environmental communications and advocacy, and critiques the concept of apathy as based on assumptions regarding a lack of concern or care. Further the thesis critiques the concepts of the gap between values and practices, or between concern and action, and advocates an appreciation for the complex dilemmas, struggles, and contradictions that may arise from environmental issues and degradation. The thesis aims to contribute to the field and practice of environmental communications and policy, in addressing unconscious dimensions and the need to incorporate affective elements of environmental degradation in addition to attitudes, values and behaviou

Engaging with Climate Change: How We Think about Engagement

This report assembles an overview of the schools of thought informing our current conceptions about engaging people with climate change. In much of the thinking today, people's behavior is often seen as a barrier to overcome, a target for carrots and sticks, or an opportunity to engineer a better result. "Engagement" implies a deeper connection between people and climate change, and so offers a further step toward addressing the risks. It is clear that climate change will not be mitigated effectively unless more people are far more engaged in doing things differently

The myth of apathy : psychosocial dimensions of environmental degradation

This thesis presents a psychosocial investigation into environmental subjectivity, through the lens of the myth of apathy. The central argument is for the acknowledgement of unconscious processes, in particular defence mechanisms, and themes of loss, mourning and ambivalence, in how environmental issues are perceived, experienced and responded to. The research draws from qualitative fieldwork in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 2007, involving three in-depth interviews with ten participants selected through the use of an online survey. Surveys were sent out to 1067 residents in Green Bay, 163 responded. The interviews were conducted using a dialogic, relational interview approach, and the analysis based on psychoanalytic qualitative research methods. The analysis centres on several core themes as emerging in the data and in the context of industry in Green Bay: loss, mourning and melancholia; ambivalence and splitting; and concern, care and reparation. The data analysis presents two case studies and four analytic thematic chapters. Based on psychoanalytic clinical work on reparation, the thesis presents a case for the incorporation of creativity and concern in the practice of environmental communications and advocacy, and critiques the concept of apathy as based on assumptions regarding a lack of concern or care. Further the thesis critiques the concepts of the gap between values and practices, or between concern and action, and advocates an appreciation for the complex dilemmas, struggles, and contradictions that may arise from environmental issues and degradation. The thesis aims to contribute to the field and practice of environmental communications and policy, in addressing unconscious dimensions and the need to incorporate affective elements of environmental degradation in addition to attitudes, values and behaviour.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Coping with eco-anxiety: An interdisciplinary perspective for collective learning and strategic communication

Anthropogenic climate change and ecological crisis are affecting people's mental health. One such manifestation, eco-anxiety, is anxiety in the form of negative, troublesome, and automatic physiological, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions to climate change and ecological degradation. The speed, scale, and severity of unfolding environmental crises will continue to exacerbate experiences of eco-anxiety. Scholars and practitioners are still in the early stages of understanding and addressing the phenomenon. To help prioritize future endeavors, we advocate for an interdisciplinary approach to address the urgency and complexity of eco-anxiety, which can be understood in the context of a larger problem facing humanity. We provide an eco-anxiety primer based on recent scoping reviews and seminal empirical research. Additionally, we recommend four opportunities for collective learning and strategic communication: (1) motivational and actionable message framing, (2) storytelling for social and behavior change, (3) knowledge sharing and linked resources, and (4) positive deviance for complex problem-solving. We hope this article will benefit health practitioners, media professionals, academic researchers, policy makers, community leaders, climate activists, and other stakeholders