Ecopsychology connects psychology and ecology in a new scientific paradigm. The political and practical implications are to show us ways of healing our alienation and to build a sane society and a sustainable culture. Theodore Roszak is credited with coining the term in his 1995 anthology, Ecopsychology, which he co-edited with Mary Gomes and Allen Kanner. This book, with articles by each of the editors and many others who would become prominent voices in the field, is still considered by many to be an excellent primer on Ecopsychology. To others, it could be more accurately termed a call for such a field to be developed.

The basic idea of ecopsychology is that the human mind is deeply and profoundly embedded not only in the social world but also in the wider, natural setting. Mental health or unhealth cannot be understood in the narrow context of only intrapsychic phenomena or social relations. One also has to include man's relation to other species and ecosystems. These relations have a deep evolutionary history; they are built in the many-leveled structure of our brains and they have deep psychic significance in the present time, in spite of urbanization. Man is dependent on healthy nature not only for his physical sustenance, but for mental health, too. The destruction of ecosystems means that something in us humans also dies.

Practical benefits

An important part of ecopsychological practice is to take psychotherapy out of office buildings and into the open. A simple walk in the woods, even in a city park, is refreshing, because that's what we humans have over thousands of years evolved to do. The beneficial effects of natural settings, and even of looking at pictures of landscapes, can be measured. They have been verified in psychological studies.

Reasons to embrace nature

Ecopsychology explores how to make links and bonds with nature. It considers that this is worth doing, because when nature is explored and viewed without judgement, it gives the sensations of harmony, balance, timelessness and stability. Ecopsychology largely rejects reductionist views of nature that focus upon rudimentary building blocks such as genes, and that describe nature as selfish and a struggle to survive. Ecopsychology considers that there has been insufficient scientific description and exploration of nature, in terms of wildness, parsimony, spirituality and emotional ties.

Cultures that embrace nature

In its exploration of how to bond with nature, ecopsychology is interested in the examples provided by a wide variety of ancient and modern cultures that have histories of embracing nature. Examples include aboriginal, pagan and Hindu cultures, and shamanism. This is not to say that such cultures are viewed without scepticism where appropriate.

Pain and delusions without nature

Ecopsychology recognises the escalating spread of pain and despair being felt by people in response to nature’s continuing destruction. It is disappointing that this destruction occurs at the hands of our own species, which makes one doubt the quality of our species, or the current degree (or delusion) of its wisdom.

Ecopsychology recognises that without the influence of nature, humans are prone to a variety of delusions. For example, they can become self centred, alienated and insensitive.

External links

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• Project NatureConnect
• International Community for Ecopsychology
• Gatherings, an Ecopsychology Journal
• Collective Blog on Ecopsychology
• John Scull: "Ecopsychology. Where does it fit in psychology?" Valuable account of the history of e., and a personal view of how it should be developed.
• New Ecopsychology or Spiritual Ecology
• Theodore Roszak: "The nature of sanity"

Ecology

Ökopsychologie | Ekopsykologia