Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Finding the Long-Lost Path: Developing Environmental Awareness Through the Pandemic

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Green Societies

  • 728 Accesses

Abstract

The continuous degradation and mass destruction of the environment has led environmentalists to believe that our planet would become uninhabitable for any species in the future. As a result of the restrictions in place due to the pandemic, critical aspects of our impact on the environment have been brought to our attention. This chapter focuses on such insights, and emphasises on how the observations during this time could help us understand the need of the hour, i.e., learning to share the same space with other species on the planet. To achieve this state, the priorities would have to shift from an attitude of constant consumption and short-term satisfaction, to a sense of well-being based on community and harmony with nature. The chapter further goes on to explore the contribution of psychology in changing the existing unsustainable actions of humans towards pro-environment and sustainable behaviour through an examination of both the contributing factors as well as obstacles to achieving such a change. Finally, a psychosocial model for sustainable action is proposed, focusing on promoting global health, wealth and peace; thus, creating a safe and secure space for all living beings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Alderfer CP (1972) Existence, relatedness and growth. Free Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  2. Arnocky S, Milfont TL, Nicol JR (2013) Time perspective and sustainable behavior: evidence for the distinction between consideration of immediate and future consequences. Environ Behav

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ausubel JH (1996) Can technology spare the earth? Am Sci 84:166–178

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bamberg S, Möser G (2007) Twenty years after Hines, Hungerford, and Tomera: a new meta-analysis of psycho-social determinants of pro-environmental behavior. J Environ Psychol 27:14–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bandura A (2000) Exercise of human agency through collective efficacy. West Psychol 14(1):17–20

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bechtel RB, Corral-Verdugo V (2010) Happiness and sustainable behavior. In: Corral-Verdugo V, García C, Frías M (eds) Psychological approaches to sustainability. Nova Science Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  7. Buchanan M (2007) What made you read this? New Sci 195(2611):36–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bolderdijk JW, Steg L, Geller ES, Lehman PK, Postmes T (2013) Comparing the effectiveness of monetary versus moral motives in environmental campaigning. Nat Clim Chang 3:413–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bouman T, Steg L (2019) Motivating society-wide pro-environmental change. One Earth 1(1):27–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Bouman T, Steg L, Kiers HAL (2018) Measuring values in environmental research: a test of an environmental portrait value questionnaire. Front Psychol 9:564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Boyce MS (2018) Wolves for Yellowstone: dynamics in time and space. J Mammology 99(5):1021–1031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Brown KW, Kasser T (2005) Are psychological and ecological wellbeing compatible? the role of values, mindfulness, and lifestyle. Soc Indic Res 74(2):349–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Report B (1987) Our common future. Butterworth, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  14. Cheval S, Mihai Adamescu C, Georgiadis T, Herrnegger M, Piticar A, Legates DR (2020) Observed and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment. Int J Environ Res Public Health 17(11):4140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Coronavirus Impact Index by Industry | Computer economics—for IT metrics, ratios, benchmarks, and research advisories for IT management. https://www.computereconomics.com/article.cfm?id=2788, 11 May 2020

  16. Corral-Verdugo V, Bonnes M, Tapia C, Fraijo B, Frías M, Carrus G (2009) Correlates of pro-sustainability orientation: the affinity towards diversity. J Environ Psychol 29:34–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Corral-Verdugo V, Mireles-Acosta JF, Tapia-Fonllem C, Fraijo-Sing B (2011) Happiness as correlate of sustainable behavior: a study of pro-ecological, frugal, equitable and altruistic actions that promote subjective wellbeing. Hum Ecol Rev 95–104

    Google Scholar 

  18. Corral-Verdugo V, Montiel, M, Sotomayor M, Frías M, Tapia C, Fraijo B (In press) Psychological wellbeing as correlate of sustainable behaviors. Int J Hisp Psychol

    Google Scholar 

  19. Crompton T, Kasser T (2009) Meeting environmental challenges: the role of human identity. WWF-UK, Godalming, UK

    Google Scholar 

  20. Damasio A (1994) Descartes’ error: emotion, reason and the human brain. Avon, New York

    Google Scholar 

  21. Dawes RM (1980) Social dilemmas. Annu Rev Psychol 31:169–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. De Young R (1991) Some psychological aspects of living lightly: desired lifestyle patterns and conservation behavior. J Environ Syst 20:215–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. De Young R (1996) Some psychological aspects of a reduced consumption lifestyle: the role of intrinsic satisfaction and competence motivation. Environ Behav 28:358–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. De Young R (2000) New ways to promote proenvironmental behavior: expanding and evaluating motives for environmentally responsible behavior. J Soc Issues 56(3):509–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Di Fabio A, Gori A (2016) Assessing workplace relational civility (WRC) with a new multidimensional “mirror” measure. Front Psychol 7(890)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Dietz T, Fitzgerald A, Shwom R (2005) Environmental values. Annu Rev Environ Resour 30, 335–372

    Google Scholar 

  27. Dogan E, Bolderdijk JW, Steg L (2014) Making small numbers count: environmental and financial feedback in promoting eco-driving behaviours. J Consum Policy 37:413–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. European Social Survey (2016) ESS round 8 source questionnaire. https://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/data/download.html?r=8

  29. Flavin C (2002) Preface. In: Starke L (ed) State of the world 2002: a worldwatch institute report on the progress toward a sustainable society. W.W. Norton, Nueva York

    Google Scholar 

  30. Gammoh BS, Koh AC, Okoroafo SC, Gleim M (2016) An examination of cultural influences in green environmental behaviour in India and the United States. In: Let’s get engaged! crossing the threshold of marketing’s engagement era. Springer, Cham, pp 51–52

    Google Scholar 

  31. Gardner G (2002) The challenge for Johannesburg: creating a more secure world. In: Starke L (ed) State of the world 2002: a worldwatch institute report on the progress toward a sustainable society. W.W. Norton, Nueva York

    Google Scholar 

  32. Gardner G, Prugh T (2008) Seeding the sustainable economy. In: Starke L (ed) State of the world. W.W. Norton & Company, New York

    Google Scholar 

  33. Gardner GT, Stern PC (2002) Environmental problems and human behavior. Pearson, New York

    Google Scholar 

  34. George S (1993) One-third in, two-thirds out. New Perspect Q 10:53–55

    Google Scholar 

  35. Gouveia V (2002) Self, culture and sustainable development. In: Schmuck P, Schultz PW (eds) Psychology of sustainable development. Kluwer, Norwell, Massachusetts

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hanel PHP, Wolfradt U, de Holanda L, Coelho G, Wolf LJ, Vilar R, Pereira Monteiro R, Gouveia VV, Crompton T, Maio GR (2018) The perception of family, city, and country values is often biased. J Cross Cult Psychol 49:831–850

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Hardin G (1968) The tragedy of the commons. Science 162:1243–1248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Hartig T, Kaiser F, Bowler P (2001) Psychological restoration in nature as a positive motivation for ecological behavior. Environ Behav 33:590–607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Haviland-Jones J, Rosario H, Wilson P, McGuire T (2005) An environmental approach to positive emotion: flowers. Evol Psychol 3:104–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Hofstede G, Bond M (1991) The confucius connection: from cultural roots to economic growth. Organ Dyn 16(4):4–21

    Google Scholar 

  41. Horton P, Horton BP (2019) Re-defining sustainability: living in harmony with life on Earth. One Earth 1(1):86–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Inouye DW, Underwood N, Inouye BD, Irwin RE (2020) Science 368:724–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Koger SM (2013) Psychological and behavioral aspects of sustainability

    Google Scholar 

  44. Koger SM, Winter DD (2010) The psychology of environmental problems: psychology for sustainability. Psychology Press, New York, NY, USA

    Google Scholar 

  45. Koger SM, Scott BA (2016) Teaching psychology for sustainability: the why and how. Psychol Learn Teach 15(3):214–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Lalit G, Emeka C, Nasser N, Chinmay C, Garg G (2020) Anonymity preserving IoT-based COVID-19 and other infectious disease contact tracing model. IEEE Access 14. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3020513

  47. Lehman PH, Geller S (2004) Behavior analysis and environmental protection: accomplishments and potential for more. Behav Soc Issues 13:13–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) (2005) Living beyond our means: natural assets and human well-being. Statement from the board. MEA. https://www.maweb.org/documents/document.429.aspx.pdf

  49. Nikiforuk A (2006) At war with our planet. The globe and mail (Toronto) March 4

    Google Scholar 

  50. Norgaard K (2009) Cognitive and behavioral challenges in responding to climate change. Policy research working paper series no. 4940. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  51. Oskamp S (2000) A sustainable future for humanity? how can psychology help? Am Psychol 55:496–508

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Paital B (2020) Nurture to nature via COVID-19, a self-regenerating environmental strategy of environment in global context. Sci Total Environ 139088

    Google Scholar 

  53. Rees W (2002) Globalization and sustainability: conflict or convergence? Bull Sci Technol Soc 22(4):249–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Roszak T (1992) The voice of the earth: an exploration of eco-psychology. Simon & Schuster, New York

    Google Scholar 

  55. Roszak T, Gomes ME, Kanner AD (1995) Ecopsychology: restoring the earth, healing the mind. Sierra Club Books, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  56. Rutz C, Loretto MC, Bates AE, Davidson SC, Duarte CM, Jetz W, Primack RB (2020) COVID-19 lockdown allows researchers to quantify the effects of human activity on wildlife. Nat Ecol Evol 1–4

    Google Scholar 

  57. Saraswat R, Saraswat DA (2020) Science 368:594–595

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Saunders CD (2003) The emerging field of conservation psychology. Hum Ecol Rev 10:137–149

    Google Scholar 

  59. Schwartz SH, Cieciuch J, Vecchione M, Davidov E, Fischer R, Beierlein C, Dirilen-Gumus O (2012) Refining the theory of basic individual values. J Pers Soc Psychol 103(4):663

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Scott BA, Amel EL, Koger SM, Manning CM (2016) Psychology for sustainability, 4th edn. Psychology Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  61. Sherif M, Harvey OJ, White BJ, Hood WR, Sherif CW (1961) Intergroup conflict and cooperation: the Robbers Cave experiment. University of Oklahoma Book Exchange, Norman, OK

    Google Scholar 

  62. Simon JL (ed) (1995) The state of humanity. Blackwell, Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  63. Skinner BF (1953) Science and human behavior. Macmillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  64. Steg L, Bolderdijk JW, Keizer K, Perlaviciute G (2014) An integrated framework for encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: the role of values, situational factors and goals. J Environ Psychol 38:104–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Stern PC (2000) Psychology and the science of human-environment interactions. Am Psychol 55(5):523

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Talbert J (2008) Redefining progress. In: Starke L (ed) State of the world. W.W. Norton & Company, New York

    Google Scholar 

  67. Tollefson J (2020) Climate versus coronavirus: why massive stimulus plans could represent missed opportunities. Nature

    Google Scholar 

  68. Turcotte M (2006) Like commuting? workers’ perceptions of their daily commute. Can Soc Trends 28:35–41

    Google Scholar 

  69. United Nations (2015) Sustainable development goals. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

  70. van der Wal AJ, Schade HM, Krabbendam L, van Vugt M (2013) Do natural landscapes reduce future discounting in humans? Proc R Soc Lond B, Biol Sci 280, 20132295. https://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/royprsb/280/1773/20132295.full.pdf

  71. van Vugt M (2002) Central, individual, or collective control? Social dilemma strategies for natural resource management. Am Behav Sci 45:783–800

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Vlek C (2000) Essential psychology for environmental policy making. Int J Psychol 35(2):153–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Vlek C, Steg L (2007) Human behavior and environmental sustainability: problems, driving forces, and research topics. J Soc Issues 63:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Weber EU (2010) What shapes perceptions of climate change? Wiley Interdiscip Rev: Clim Chang 1(3):332–342

    Google Scholar 

  75. Rees W (2010) What’s blocking sustainability? Hum Nat, Cogn, Denial, Sustain: Sci, Pract Policy 6(2):13–25

    Google Scholar 

  76. World Health Organization (2020) Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): situation report, 72

    Google Scholar 

  77. World Wide Fund for Nature Report (2020) Conditions are rife next pandemic unless urgent action is taken. Gland, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  78. Schultz WP (2002) Environmental attitudes and behaviors across cultures. Online Read Psychol Cult, Unit 8, Chap. 4, 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  79. Triandis C (1996) The psychological measurement of cultural syndromes. Am Psychol Assoc 52(4):407–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Psychology, Manipal College of Health Professions (MCHP), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India

    T. S. Shwetha & Avneet Kaur

Authors
  1. T. S. Shwetha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Avneet Kaur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. S. Shwetha .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Jharkhand, India

    Chinmay Chakraborty

  2. Applied Science, KK University, Nepura, Bihar Sharif, India

    Swapnila Roy

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Shillong, Meghalaya, India

    Susmita Sharma

  4. Department of Marine Engineering, Vietnam Maritime University, Haiphong City, Vietnam

    Tien Anh Tran

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Shwetha, T.S., Kaur, A. (2021). Finding the Long-Lost Path: Developing Environmental Awareness Through the Pandemic. In: Chakraborty, C., Roy, S., Sharma, S., Tran, T.A. (eds) The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Green Societies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66490-9_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation