New study released: How psychology can help us care more for nature
New research reveals how psychology can get people to care more about our environment. By exploring individual values, personality traits, and psychological distance, scientists begin to hone in on what motivates people to protect nature.
It turns out, boosting our connections to nature through better access, encouraging collective action, and spreading a little optimism could spark real change, from backyard habits to global impact.
Tapping into collective psychology
A recent interdisciplinary study explores how understanding and shaping human behaviour is critical to reversing the biodiversity crisis. Titled Why Do (Or Don’t) People Protect Nature? Insights From Conservation Practice and Environmental Psychology to Respond to the Biodiversity Crisis, the research highlights how tapping into collective psychology may be one of our most powerful tools for protecting the natural world.
Solving the biodiversity crisis is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. This study brings together experts in environmental psychology, conservation biology, economics, and systems thinking to examine why some people take action to protect nature, while others remain disengaged.
The research identifies key psychological dimensions that influence conservation behaviour, including personal values, personality traits, and how psychologically “close” or “distant” people feel from nature. It also outlines practical tools that can help drive conservation action – such as improving access to nature, fostering collective action, and spreading optimism. These strategies have the potential to spark real change, from everyday backyard habits to global impact.
Some potential tools that may help drive conservation action, boosting our connections to nature through better access, encouraging collective action, and spreading a little optimism could spark real change, from backyard habits to global impact.
Study highlights:
- Meaningfully responding to the global biodiversity crisis requires complementary transdisciplinary approaches, including multilevel systems thinking and psychology.
- Individuals are key in implementing transformative systems change, whether through advocating for change externally or through powerful individuals making bold decisions in government or industry.
- Psychological science is important for improving connection with nature and making environmental values salient to support private and public sphere conservation behaviour.
You can read the full study on Global Environmental Psychology here.
