The aim of the seminar is to familiarize students with the APA guidelines on the possible tasks of psychology in relation to global climate change, and to introduce them to the direct and indirect effects of climate change and the ecological crisis on mental health. Students will gain comprehensive insight of phenomena such as climate anxiety, solastalgia, eco-paralysis, eco-guilt, eco-shame, and eco-grief, as well as climate change denial. We will address the contradictions between the aforementioned phenomena and discuss when and to what extent these reactions can be considered adaptive or maladaptive in the context of sustainability, pro-environmental behavior and mental health. During the course, we will review possible psychological interventions and therapeutical methods in relation to climate change and the ecological crisis. Students will be able to place these phenomena within the framework of existential/humanistic and modern psychoanalytic psychology, as well as environmental psychology and general psychology.
The seminar will be held weekly in a hybrid format (2×45 minutes/week). In addition to CHARM-EU students, the course will also be open to psychology MA students at ELTE PPK, providing an opportunity for intercultural exchange on the impacts of the ecological crisis. Throughout the course, we work on each topic through interactive exercises. In addition, students’ learning progress and development are supported by a modular course interface created in the Canvas e-learning system, as well as various project assignments. Students actively shape their learning path through flexibility in choice of assignments and independent scheduling of progress. The course material is based on the most recent literature on the subject, as well as the latest research findings of the lecturer’s research group.
In addition to the general description outlined above, the following points summarize the detailed structure of the course:
• Introduction. The scientific background of climate change based on natural science research
• Climate change as a topic in psychology: the guidelines of the American Psychological Association in relation to climate change
• The drivers of pro-environmental behavior and the “dragons of inaction”
• A systemic approach to climate change and mental health. The direct and indirect effects of climate change on mental health. Vulnerable populations
• The psychological background of climate change denial
• Eco-emotions, psychoterratic syndromes: eco/climate anxiety, eco-paralysis, eco-grief, solastalgia, and eco-guilt I-II.
• Interpretation of psychoterratic syndromes from the perspective of existential/humanistic and modern psychoanalytic psychology
• Cases, differential diagnostic considerations. Coping with climate anxiety; adaptivity
• Psychological interventions, therapeutical methods in relation to the ecological crisis
• Eco-psychology, eco-psychological counseling, eco-art therapy
• The natural environment and mental health (field experience)
At the end of the course, the learner will be able to
– detect the psychological consequences of climate change
– interpret the different ‘psychoterratic’ phenomena and eco-emotions
– recognize the manifestation of “psychoterratic” phenomena in clients
– articulate a mature and scientifically based opinion on the psychological aspects of climate change
– apply a transdisciplinary approach that integrates natural science and social science perspectives on the ecological crisis
– show sufficient empathy towards vulnerable groups
– identify factors that promote and inhibit pro-environmental behaviour
– take appropriate action to promote pro-environmental behaviour in the field in which they work
– identify their own emotions, behavioural patterns and coping mechanisms in relation to climate change and the ecological crisis
– think critically and innovatively about consumer society, sustainability, and the effects of the ecological crisis on mental health
– provide assistance in relation to problems associated with climate change and the ecological crisis in the course of their work
1. Active participation in classes (maximum permitted absence: 25% of classes)
2. Completion of modules on Canvas, including successful completion of quizzes
3. Project work: Developing independent ideas or adapting and processing professional materials in pairs (or individually, if justified) on topics related to the psychological issues of climate change
4. Completing a self-awareness task related to climate change using the method of introspection
Albrecht G. (2011). Chronic Environmental Change: Emerging ‘Psychoterratic’ Syndromes. In: Weissbecker I. (Eds.) Climate Change and Human Well-Being. International and Cultural Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9742-5_3
Baudon, P., Jachens, L. A. (2021). Scoping Review of Interventions for the Treatment of Eco-Anxiety. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 9636. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189636 (Linkek egy külső oldalra)
Clayton, S. D., & Manning, C. M. (2018). Psychology and climate change: human perceptions, impacts, and responses. London: Academic Press, an imprint of Elsevier.
Cunsolo, A., & Ellis, N. R. (2018). Ecological grief as a mental health response to climate change-related loss. Nature Climate Change, 8, 275-281. doi:10.1038/s41558-018-0092-2
Doherty, T. J., & Clayton, S. (2011). The psychological impacts of global climate change. American Psychologist, 66(4), 265-276. doi:10.1037/a0023141
Davenport, L. (2017). Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Kałwak, W., Ekelund, B., Gale, N., Peter, F., … Wortelboer, S. (eds.). (2024). Climate Crisis and the Human Factor: 10 Psychological Keys to Unlocking Climate Action. Opinion paper of the EFPA’s Expert Reference Group for Psychology and Climate Change. European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations EFPA AISBL. https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.15026
Pihkala, P. (2022). Toward a Taxonomy of Climate Emotions. Frontiers in Climate, 3:738154. doi: 10.3389/fclim.2021.738154
Swim, J. Clayton, S., Doherty, T., Gifford, R., Howard, G.,…Weber, E. (2011). Psychology and Global Climate Change: Addressing a Multi-faceted Phenomenon and Set of Challenges. A Report by the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on the Interface Between Psychology and Global Climate Change.
• Debate
• Frontal lecture
• Individual work
• Pair work, cooperative group work
• Project work
Transcript of records