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Problems and solutions: an ecological view

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Abstract

A problem is a difference between what a person has and wants. A solution is anything that reduces the difference. These two simple definitions form the foundation of an ecological perspective on the often-complex, reciprocal relationships among people, their environments and their behaviours—a perspective that mixes causal ideas from psychology with consequential ideas from economics. The present article offers a brief introduction to this perspective and suggests how it might be instantiated by naturalistic observations and content analyses of narratives.

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  1. Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada

    Warren Thorngate

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  1. Warren Thorngate
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Correspondence to Warren Thorngate.

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Thorngate, W. Problems and solutions: an ecological view. Mind Soc 19, 91–102 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11299-020-00227-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11299-020-00227-3

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