Psychology and the Environment
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Extracting Taste out of Waste
This video shows how restaurant waste in San Francisco becomes nutrient-rich compost used in farms and vineyards. What is the purpose of weeds in Canards farm? How does garbage make its way back onto 2,000 San Francisco restaurant tables?
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Bottle Bank Arcade The FunTheory.com
The FunTheory.com conducts an experiment in order to get people to recycle their bottles by making it a fun activity. The experimenter sets up a bottle bank with flashing lights and a display, giving the player points for their bottles. The flashy bottle bank receives bottles from 100 people, while a nearby bottle bank is used only twice. Considering that…
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A Clockwork Green
George Lundberg, Editor in Chief of Medscape General Medicine begins the short clip with an introduction of the speaker and topic. Stephen Moffic, a professor of psychiatry, offers his perspective on why physicians and psychiatrists have not addressed the emotional, physiological, and behavioral effects of environmental issues. Moffic also notes a paradigm for social influence research and the importance of…
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Therapy with a Dose of Nature
Thomas Dohert, coordinator of ecopsychology studies at Lewis & Clark’s graduate school discusses the relationship between a person’s values and their beliefs about the environment. Graduate students share their experiences in ecopsychology courses and how the perspective benefited them personally and professionally. What is eco-therapy? What are some ways to help people connect with the environment?
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We Have to Live Within the Carrying Capacity of the Earth
Christopher Slatter of EuroNews interviews Bjorn Stigson of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Stigson remarks on the balancing act between development and our environment. He cautions that we have to live within the carrying capacity of the earth, and that we may need to change our lifestyles and consumption patterns to reduce emissions. What is the carrying capacity?…
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Mathis Wackernagel: The Ecological Footprint
The developer of the ecological footprint concept, Mathis Wackernagel, is interviewed. He defines the concept by a financial analogy, and thus ecological footprints are our world’s ecological capital. Wackernagel continues with the financial analogies likening our current ecological depletion of 25-30% as going into bankruptcy. How is a person’s or country’s ecological footprint calculated?
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Where Does E-Waste End Up?
A Greenpeace scientist, Kevin Brigden, analyzed the soil and water of two large e-waste recycling markets India and China and found extremely high levels of contamination. In light of this, leading electronics companies have vowed to begin developing safer, non-toxic alternatives in their products. Why isn’t this waste processed in the United States since most of the electronic components were…
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The Psychology of Climate Change
Journalist and ABC news correspondent, Bill Blakemore, speaks to some of the psychological phenomena that occur when people think about environmental crises. In particular, Blakemore focuses on some of the defense mechanisms we use to cope with the discomfort caused by environmental issues. How is selective denial harmful? How is selective denial adaptive?
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How to Reuse Everyday Items
In this instructional video, a number of suggestions are given on how to reuse everyday items. These items include old newspapers, produce bags, greeting cards, mouse pads, file folders, and junk mail. Which of the household items would be easiest for you to reuse? Which item in the video is the least likely to be reused? Why?
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How to Be Green at Work
Howcast uses a similar format to the clip above, but this time on how to be green at work. Practical and some less practical workplace suggestions are given for employees. Suppose you want to do your part to reduce your reliance on personal transportation. What are some potential options for you and your workplace?
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