Conservation psychology is an interdisciplinary field that explores the psychological basis of human’s care for nature and motivation toward conservation and sustainability. The course provides a background on the development of conservation psychology and survey of topics including psychological benefits of contact with nature, nature and lifespan development, environmental identity and behavior, social justice, influencing conservation action, hope and resilience, and strategic messaging and communications. The instructor will provide examples from the US and abroad. Conservation roles for mental health counselors, environmental educators and sustainability professionals will be explored. The course includes online, in-person and field-based activities.
- Teacher: Thomas Doherty