Psychology and Sustainability Essay

In the recent past, sustainability has been a significant topic of concern holistically in all career fields globally. Every career has a vital role to play in ensuring that a sustainable environment is maintained or created using the different initiatives that are closely related to the same. Psychology deals with studying people`s behaviors and how their minds work seeking to understand why people engage or act in specific ways. A psychologist can analyze one`s perception, behavior, motivation and how one relates to his or her surroundings and in this case the environment. Over the years, psychology has identified specific hindrances that are associated with the failure of achieving sustainability. Since psychology can identify behaviors and how people relate to their environment, then it is undeniable that it will contribute to sustainability since human behaviors drive significant disruptions of nature, social and economic aspects.

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The principal objective of psychologists in ensuring sustainability is ensuring that people live harmoniously in their prospect environment, making sure that all areas are balanced, that is; the social, economic and natural aspects. It is a psychological matter that people choose to ignore environmental problems and even contribute to specific disasters. In many ways, people become exploiters of natural resources with the aim of industrialization or commercialization. Also, a primary concern is on how people choose to ignore their responsibility in ensuring that they take care of the environment that they are in by eliminating and mitigating its problems(Schmuck, 2003). Other areas include the needs of the community like proper healthcare, education to children and funding of specific projects in the society. Psychology plays a significant role in all this and has the highest chances of determining how sustainability issues can be dealt with by evaluating human responses. Psychologists can be able to examine perceptions of people towards positive or negative environmental attitudes as well as behaviors(Koger, 2013).

Psychology can contribute significantly to ensuring a sustainable development using various ways. Psychologists can offer guidance and advice regarding population control, technology, the importance of natural resources and consumption(Koger, 2013). In their line of work, psychologists can be able to go over the typical responsibilities that are in line with their careers and concentrate efficiently on environmental problems. One factor they can consider is family planning. Here, guidance is given on proper family planning methods with the aim of controlling population which will, in the end, reduce chances of poverty. In most cases, nations with high populations but few resources have a higher chance of having a significant number of people living in poverty. Another concept is industrial waste management. Psychologists are well aware of the dangers that connect with such behaviors. Therefore, they can offer advice on the risks it poses to the life of human beings. They can also seek to educate people on the importance of maintaining a green environment(Schmuck, 2003). This approach will attempt to identify the financial significance of living in a green environment as the same will be significant to the economy especially when it comes to green energy.

Another approach that can be used by psychologists in curbing environmental problems is by relating environmental issues with the aspect of the socio-behavioral theory. Issues like air pollution can be viewed as a problem caused by many individuals who emit toxic exhaust gases. The point is related to the how humans focus solely on needs as well as benefits without concentrating on the adverse effects of such. Such problem can be mitigated by introducing plans that can be used by people to control their behaviors, and as they do so, sustainability is achieved. Some of these behaviors are perceived to be social norms, and thus they form a trend of continuity even when the outcomes are adverse(Rashmi, 2014). Therefore, enlightening people that some of these behaviors yield negative results will help in making sure that people shift or stop them. There is still another approach that psychologists can use with the aim of achieving sustainability. It is the concept of analyzing and studying the causes of some environmental issues. Various ways can be used to determine such causes. Psychologists can conduct interviews with people to hear their views on why they opted to increase house energy, the possibilities, and impossibilities of a continuous energy-saving behavior. The reviews given will then help them assist how energy can be saved to the maximum thus saving on finances and evading any risks of damaging the environment.

Psychology will also help identify people`s future expectations regarding the quality of life that people would lead if green energy is made dominant as people give their personal views. Psychology is also able to identify and explain why people would prefer motorized transport and the concern on whether people understand the environmental problems associated with the same. Enlightening people on the numerous benefits of reducing motorized benefits would trigger people to adopt other means of transport since their a high likelihood that people are not aware of the dangers related to it (Rashmi, 2014). In addition to that, psychologists can play an essential role of assisting professionals like policymakers in creating, evaluating and analyzing the best and most applicable business practices, lifestyles, behavioral plans and countermeasures of dealing with related environmental issues.

Shortly, psychology will be a useful tool for mitigating sustainable development. As per now, there are numerous cases and issues of environmental problems. The primary concern is how to achieve sustainability and the specific changes that need to be made for the same to be completed. The theories and methodologies used by to find answers to these upcoming issues. They can also be used to created strategies and measures to curb environmental problems and thus achieving sustainability(Scott, 2014). Psychologists are required when it comes to searching for actions to be applied so that the amicable practices can be implemented. One way that psychology has over the years contributed substantially in the area of sustainability is advocating for peace and giving trauma support in cases where national disasters have struck. Also, psychologists have offered help on the health sector, nothing that good and affordable health care is a significant concept in ensuring sustainable development. It is also good to note that, it is through psychology that unsustainability is detected. When people are unwell and do not receive the perfect health care, such issue is indicated by psychologists as they conduct their research(Schmuck, 2003). Another way that psychology can contribute to ensuring sustainability is by sharing social policies that support mental illness broadly in the world. Psychology is a good indicator that will still be used in future to identify areas that have unsustainability.

Psychology will remain to be used extensively in deciding the measures that ought to be applied in creating countermeasures to deal with sustainability issues(Scott, 2014). A valid concept that is viable today is behavioral economics. This aspect is both vital to economists and governments at large especially as stated by the United Nations. The approach is being primarily applied to provide suggestions on how current environmental problems can be used to increase and better conditions with the aim of achieving sustainability(Rashmi, 2014). As per now, governments are using behavioral science to come up with strategies and policies that are working to ensure that sustainability is delivered to the maximum. Such information is useful because in general such factors are of significant consideration by a significant number of nations.

From the provided information, it is undeniable that psychology has contributed greatly to maintaining and ensuring sustainability. It is also clear that it will continue to contribute greatly regarding the issue even in the days to come. I would like to pursue this career because as stated in the findings, not only do psychologists contribute in the health sector but that also have a chance to mingle with other departments and fields to ensure sustainable developments. Seeing that is a concept and a career that will be used shortly to solve sustainability issues has added me the motivation to pursue this course.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, psychology is indeed fit and a significant contributor to ensuring that sustainability is achieved. The concept of studying behaviors is helpful because people use the same reactions to determine how they relate to the environment. Areas that touch sustainability are the most critical factors in people`s lives globally. It is the objective of every organization and country to ensure sustainability in the areas of economics, our social life, and nature. The theories used in psychology can still be used to predict the causes of unsustainability and also be used to provide mechanisms that will be incorporated into other policies to ensure sustainability. Psychologists can be employed to give to advise policymakers and can also be used to provide an analysis of how people respond, perceive, or would react in case complete sustainability is achieved.

References

Koger, S. M. (2013). Psychological and behavioral aspects of sustainability.

Rashmi, J. (2014). Psychological contributions to Sustainable Development. American Psychological Association.

Schmuck, P., &Vlek, C. (2003). Psychologists can do much to support sustainable development. European Psychologist, 8(2), 66.

Scott, B. A., & Koger, S. M. (2014). Teaching psychology for sustainability. Office of Teaching Resources in Psychology, St. Thomas University, Minessota, US. OTRP Web Resource. Disponivelem http://www. teachgreenpsych. com/index. php. Acessoem, 20.