BIZ TIPS
BOOST YOUR SUSTAINABLE EFFORTS WITH THESE THREE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONCEPTS
A
ccording to the 2020 Living Planet Index, the average global footprint per person is 2.5 global hectares. This implies we're using resources at a 1.56x quicker pace than the planet can renew, resulting in the current environmental catastrophe. Individuals, governments, and corporations must all take action to address the global climate catastrophe. This article focuses on business activity and how environmental psychology may help businesses be more sustainable. By the conclusion of this essay, you'll have a better understanding of how the human mind can influence behaviour and shift culture. You'll discover how to use this knowledge to drive company sustainability both internally (for workers) and outside (for consumers).
What does environmental psychology entail? Environmental psychology is the study of how humans interact with and respond to the environment. An environmental psychologist, for example, could look at why people recycle, what inspires them to buy sustainable products, or what kind of surroundings make them happy. Psychologists have long been involved in efforts to encourage long-term habits. Consider this: today's environmental concerns are a human problem, the outcome of our thoughts, feelings, and actions. What better approach to tackle this problem than to go inside the heads of people who are responsible?
Today's environmental concerns are a human problem, the outcome of our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
The climatic catastrophe is the result of a short-term survival mentality. This kind of thinking aided us 160,000 years ago, but it is less appropriate in today's world. We are building a harsher world by depleting our natural world's resources and continuing our unrestrained consumption, which is already having a detrimental influence on our well-being. Environmental psychologists research this influence as well as the human drive to reduce it.
Sustainability psychology: 3 concepts to advance corporate efforts Organizations may utilise understanding human psychology in the context of sustainability to: • Internally, promote sustainability (aimed at employees). • Externally, market viability (aimed at consumers). Let's have a look at three key psychological principles that are utilised to enhance both internal and external company sustainability.
Concept #1: Proactive prosocial motivations The desire to protect and promote the well-being of others is known as prosocial motivation. Helping others for intrinsic satisfaction is self-beneficial prosocial activity. People who are proactive in their social motivation act in ways that encourage social acceptability and camaraderie. They behave
38
DAWN
September 2021
