This episode is an introduction to Series 2 provides an overview of what environmental psychology is, how it has formed through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives, and where we find ourselves today as a global society trying to meet planetary health needs and how environmental psychology can help provide a lens for system change.
In this episode we discuss environmental psychology as a discipline and how over the last 50 years it has grown rapidly due to the declining health of the natural environment. We suggest why integrating an environmental psychology lens to help support system change towards healthier societies can support global change through application of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. We apply the theory as part of a socio-ecological approach to frame the episodes in series two to explore the question: How can environmental psychology as part of transdisciplinary research, foster system change for healthy societies?
In this episode, co-producers and co-hosts, Amanda Gabriel, from the Department of People and Society at SLU and HUB Coordinator from SLU Urban Futures, and Hannah Arnett, Independent researcher in health inovation projects, from the environmental psychological network, are in conversation to discuss how the episodes in series two will be examined from a different level of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. This structure will enable analysis of an environmental psychology lens at different systems levels from a Microsystem, Mesosystem, Exosystem, Macrosystem, Chronosystem perspective. Of course, we are unlikely to find one answer, but we hope the exploration of topics will widen a view globally, in an accessible way, on how we can study individuals and groups interactions in social, cultural and physical settings, to find meaning and practical solutions for changing systems in context of creating healthier societies, through the value of outdoor spaces.
This episode explores:
How the Human-land podcast aims to provide accessible scientific content
What is an environmental psychology research perspective?
How can Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory be applied to understand system change for an environmental and public health systems perspective?
What to expect in series 2 episodes
We hope you enjoy exploring a new topic focus for series two in discussions with researchers, citizens, and academics, and how we can understand motivations for change and modes of action as part of system design through many interesting conversations to work towards creating healthier societies.
Supported by: SLU Landscape – through SLU Teaching Synergy Forum Peer review: Helene Landin All vignettes and sound logos are Creative Commons or Royalty Free with revised license free to be used in here: "Dream Wave" by Rose Alexander-George "Creative Commons Mangore Julia Florida (Barcarolle)" by Agustin Barrios Mangore and performed by Edson Lopes, licensed under CC BY 3.0, available at musopen.org/music/13022-julia-florida-barcarolle/ Royalty Free logos by Lexin_Music via Pixabay
References:
Brofenbrenner: BRONFENBRENNER, U. (1994). Ecological models of human development. Readings on the development of children, 2, 37-43.