Ecopsychology Science Totems and the Technological Species

by Peter H. Kahn Jr. (Editor), Patricia H. Hasbach (Editor)

We need nature for our physical and psychological well-being. Our actions reflect this when we turn to beloved pets for companionship, vacation in spots of natural splendor, or spend hours working in the garden. Yet we are also a technological species and have been since we fashioned tools out of stone. Thus one of this century's central challenges is to embrace our kinship with a more-than-human world--"our totemic self"--and integrate that kinship with our scientific culture and technological selves.

This book takes on that challenge and proposes a reenvisioned ecopsychology. Contributors consider such topics as the innate tendency for people to bond with local place; a meaningful nature language; the epidemiological evidence for the health benefits of nature interaction; the theory and practice of ecotherapy; Gaia theory; ecovillages; the neuroscience of perceiving natural beauty; and sacred geography. Taken together, the essays offer a vision for human flourishing and for a more grounded and realistic environmental psychology.

Genres: Psychology, Politics, Nature, School

344 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2012

Reviews

[Clivemichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent primer. Most essays are quite academic. Writing improves from beginning to end.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was well organized, well thought out and gave a good overview of the current model of ecopsychology.

[Paige Billman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boo. Hated it. A definite sad decline from the first anthology of ecopscych writings. Sterilized and virtually useless....with the exception of Albrecht and maybe a couple of other writers. Has become very mainstream American psychology.