Psychology of Sustainability : From Sustainability Marketing to Social-Ecological Transformation

This book analyzes key findings and developments of psychology for sustainable development. The starting point is a discussion of the established literature of environmental psychology in regards to which factors influence environment-related behavior. Afterwards, the author discusses strategies and interventions that can promote sustainable behavior. It is very important that in order to increase the effectiveness of environmental psychological interventions, these must be first contextualized socially. Furthermore, interventions that aim to bring about a socio-ecological transformation should also focus on the goal of subjective well-being. Overall, the findings of environmental psychology are brought together with theories from positive psychology and the approach of psychological resources from positive psychology and the approach of psychological resources from health psychology to answer the question: How can the socio-ecological transformation of a consumer society be supported by an inner transformation of human beings. An answer to this question is provided by the promotion of six psychological resources for sustainable lifestyles: mindfulness, capacity for pleasure, self-acceptance, self-efficacy, construction of meaning and solidarity can both promote individual well-being and increase motivation for sustainable behavior. Preface and Recommendations for Reading Preface Recommendation for Reading Contents Chapter 1: Social-Ecological Problem Situation 1.1 Three Sustainability Strategies: Efficiency, Consistency, Sufficiency 1.2 Three Reasons for Neglecting the Sufficiency Strategy 1.3 There Is a Growing Awareness of the Need for Cultural Change 1.4 The Social Dimension of Sustainability: Links Between Material Well-being and Subjective Well-being 1.5 The Perspective of the Individual in Transdisciplinary Sustainability Science Bibliography Chapter 2: Psychology for Sustainable Development 2.1 Contributions of Environmental Psychology to Sustainability Research 2.2 IMPUR Scheme for the Systematization of Interventions to Change Environmental Behavior 2.2.1 Information 2.2.2 Motivation 2.2.3 Planning 2.2.4 Implementation 2.2.5 Routinization 2.3 Strategies for Social Contextualization of Environmental Psychological Interventions: Target Group Segmentation, Process Orientation, and Participation 2.3.1 Target Group Segmentation 2.3.2 Process Orientation 2.3.3 Participation 2.4 From Marketing to Transformation Mode Bibliography Chapter 3: Psychological Resources for Sustainable Lifestyles 3.1 Subjective Well-being and Life Satisfaction 3.2 Strategies for a Happy Life 3.3 Pleasure-Goal Regulation-Meaning Theory of Well-being 3.4 Psychological Resources 3.5 Psychological Resources to Promote Sustainable Lifestyles 3.6 Six Psychological Resources and Their Function for Sustainable Behavior 3.6.1 Capacity for Pleasure 3.6.2 Self-Acceptance 3.6.3 Self-Efficacy 3.6.4 Mindfulness 3.6.5 Construction of Meaning 3.6.6 Solidarity 3.7 Initiation of Upward Spirals for Sustainable Lifestyles Through the Interaction of Psychological Resources 3.8 Individual Paths to Sustainable Lifestyles Bibliography Chapter 4: Settings for the Promotion of Psychological Resources for Sustainable Lifestyles 4.1 Coaching 4.2 Health Promotion 4.3 Schools and Universities 4.3.1 Schools 4.3.2 Universities 4.4 Companies 4.5 Nonprofit Organizations 4.6 Residential Neighborhoods Bibliography Chapter 5: The Desirable, Probable, and Possible 5.1 The Desirable 5.2 The Probable 5.2.1 Globalization 5.2.2 Digitalization 5.3 The Possible Bibliography Appendices Appendix A: EcoTopTen+ Appendix B: 55 Starting Points and Small Steps for a Good Life Within Ecological Limits Capacity for Pleasure (Sect. 3.6.1) Self-Acceptance (Sect. 3.6.2) Self-Efficacy (Sect. 3.6.3) Mindfulness (Sect. 3.6.4) Construction of Meaning (Sect. 3.6.5) Solidarity (Sect. 3.6.6) Relaxation Physical Activity Nutrition Bibliography Index This book analyzes key findings and developments of psychology for sustainable development. The starting point is a discussion of the established literature of environmental psychology in regards to which factors influence environment-related behavior. Afterwards, the author discusses strategies and interventions that can promote sustainable behavior. It is very important that in order to increase the effectiveness of environmental psychological interventions, these must be first contextualized socially. Furthermore, interventions that aim to bring about a socio-ecological transformation should also focus on the goal of subjective well-being. Overall, the findings of environmental psychology are brought together with theories from positive psychology and the approach of psychological resources from positive psychology and the approach of psychological resources from health psychology to answer the question: How can the socio-ecological transformation of a consumer society be supported by an inner transformation of human beings. An answer to this question is provided by the promotion of six psychological resources for sustainable lifestyles: mindfulness, capacity for pleasure, self-acceptance, self-efficacy, construction of meaning and solidarity can both promote individual well-being and increase motivation for sustainable behaviour