Hope and Despair in Environmental Issues

Hope and Despair in Environmental Topics

Why is despair chasing us? Where can we find hope?

Elizabeth K. Andre, MAEE Conference, March 13, 2010Saturday, March 13, 2010

Why is it important to talk about despair?

Saturday, March 13, 2010


Dirty little secret of the Environmental Movement




We may be unprepared to deal with it.




We may be unprepared to deal with it.

Hope is a necessary component of environmental and social change.



Source: Pew Research Center, October 22, 2009



Source: Norgaard, K. M. (2006) People want to protect themselves a little bit: Emotions, denial, and social movement nonparticipation, Sociological Inquiry, 76(3): 372 - 396.



Source: Norgaard, K. M. (2006) People want to protect themselves a little bit: Emotions, denial, and social movement nonparticipation, Sociological Inquiry, 76(3): 372 - 396.

When will people begin to react to global warming?

Emotion and conversation norms shiftIndividuals have a different relationship with emotions of powerlessness, fear, & guilt.


Why is there so much despair in Environmental circles?


The Environmental Behavior ModelHungerford and Volk, 1990

Entry Level VariablesSensitivity, Knowledge of Ecology, Attitudes towards pollution, technology and economics

Ownership VariablesIn-depth knowledge about issues, Personal investment in the issues and the environment,

Knowledge of consequences of behavior, A personal commitment to issue resolution

Empowerment VariablesKnowledge of and skill in using environmental action strategies, Locus of control

Citizenship Behavior


Environmental Sensitivity

An empathetic connection


Aldo Leopold, 1949


“We grieve only for what we know. The erasure of Silphium from western Dane

County is no cause for grief if one knows it only as a name in a botany book”

Aldo Leopold, 1949


Golden Toad--Costa Rica


Great Barrier Reef


Aldo Leopold


“One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a

world of wounds.”Aldo Leopold


Why do we feel despair?


Why do we feel despair?We are sensitive beings.



We feel connections to other living things.




They are dying.




They are dying.

Many environmental messages highlight loss.




They are dying.

Many environmental messages highlight loss.

But wait...There’s more!!!


Things are complex.


Things are complex.

Disempowering


Things are complex.

Environmental Behavior Model

Disempowering


Things are complex.

Environmental Behavior Model•Ownership Variables

Disempowering


Things are complex.


• In-depth knowledge of issues

Disempowering


Things are complex.


• In-depth knowledge of issues• Knowledge of consequences of personal behavior

Disempowering


Things are complex.



• Empowerment Variables

Disempowering


Things are complex.



• Empowerment Variables• Locus of Control

Disempowering


Possible sources of despair:



We are sensitive and things are dying.




Issues are complex and we become disempowered.





But wait...There’s more!!!


Dominant paradigms in Environmental Philosophy

Eco Marxism

Ecological Modernization

Source: Lueck, M. A. M. (2007). Hope for a cause as cause for hope: The need for hope in environmental sociology. American Sociology, 38: 250 – 261.


Eco Marxism



Eco MarxismContribute to environmental decline.

Captialist States:




Are limited in ability to promote substantive environmental improvements, because...

Captialist States:




Are limited in ability to promote substantive environmental improvements, because...

Must support the treadmill of production.

Captialist States:



Eco Marxism


“Everyone is on the

treadmill and unable or

unwilling to get off.”


Eco Marxism


"This culture will not undergo any sort of

voluntary transformation to a sane and sustainable

way of living...[c]ivilization needs to

be brought down now."


Eco Marxist Philosophies

Source: Sheppard, J. W. (2004) Reducing pessimism’s sway in the environmental ethics classroom. Worldviews, 8(2 – 3), 213 – 226.



The solution to our environmental crisis requires radical changes.




The solution to our environmental crisis requires radical changes.

Radical change is the best way society has to deal with these challenges




Resonates with Young People


change is difficult and slow




many environmental proposals are ineffective





revolution is unlikely






actions seen as unable to significantly impact overall situation






actions seen as unable to significantly impact overall situation

• anger

• hopelessness

• apathy

• pessimism



Pessimism has a tendency to reinforce itself.





Hopelessness




Apathy sets in

Hopelessness




Problems increase

Apathy sets in

Hopelessness




“A vicious downward spiral”

Problems increase

Apathy sets in

Hopelessness





Eco Marxism encourages unrealistic goals, and we fail to reach them.






But wait, there’s more...


Academia


Academia“Blind pessimism is too

often seen as a realistic, sophisticated, and

intellectually refined view of the world among many

academics.


Academia“Blind pessimism is too

often seen as a realistic, sophisticated, and

intellectually refined view of the world among many

academics.Hope is often seen as quaint, religious, and

naïve.”

Johnson, B. (2005) Overcoming “Doom and Gloom”: Empowering students in courses on social problems, injustice, and inequity. Teaching Sociology, 33: 44 – 58.






Culture of pessimism in the Academy.







There’ll be more later...Saturday, March 13, 2010

What do we need to counter despair?



Optimism?

Hope?

Utopian visions?

Drugs?

Other?


Optimism: a stable predisposition to “believe that good rather than bad things will happen”

What is optimism?

Source: Scheier & Carver, 1985; cited in Bryant, F. B. & Cvengros, J. A. (2004) Distinguishing hope and optimism: Two sides of a coin, or two separate coins? Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology,

23(2), 273 – 302.



What is optimism?


23(2), 273 – 302.

James Hansen et al:“if humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar

to that on which civilization developed and to which life on

Earth is adapted...”



What is optimism?


23(2), 273 – 302.

“Improbable” < 650 ppm


What motivates 350.org?



Naive optimism?



Naive optimism?

They haven’t read the data and don’t understand the improbability of success?



Naive optimism?


other?



Naive optimism?


other?

Let’s turn to a philosopher for insight...


Orr, D. W. (2004) Hope in hard times. Conservation Biology 18(2), 295 – 298.


“There are legitimate grounds for hope in hard times, but not one speck of ground for wishful thinking of any kind. We won’t be rescued by more research, hypertechnology, or some deus ex

machina…




machina…


In our situation, hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns

out (Havel 1991:181).



machina…



out (Havel 1991:181).

Optimism cannot be commanded, as [Auschwitz survivor Viktor] Frankl observes, but hope can be nurtured by good work, openness

to life, and rising above our lesser selves.



machina…



out (Havel 1991:181).

Optimism cannot be commanded, as [Auschwitz survivor Viktor] Frankl observes, but hope can be nurtured by good work, openness

to life, and rising above our lesser selves.

Hope, real hope, comes from doing the things before us that need to be done in the spirit of thankfulness and celebration,

without worrying about whether we will win or lose.”


Orr is a Philosopher


Orr is a Philosopher ...

What do Cognitive Psychologists have to say

about hope?


Hope Theory


Hope Theory

Snyder, C. R. (2002) Hope theory: Rainbows in the mind. Psychological Inquiry, 13(4), 249 – 275.


Hope TheoryHope is “the perceived capability to derive pathways to desired goals, and motivate oneself via agency thinking to use those pathways”



Hope Theory



Hope TheoryBased on premise that people are likely to think in terms of GOALS.




Goals provide Targets of Mental Action Sequences.





People approach goal pursuits by thinking about how to make a useable PATHWAY from Point A to B.






The purpose of the human brain is to anticipate these sequences.






The purpose of the human brain is to anticipate these sequences.

The motivation component is agency thinking—“the perceived capacity to use one’s pathways to reach desired goals.”



Hope Theory



Hope TheoryA cognitive model, not an emotional one.




However, emotions do play a role:





A person’s perceptions of success influence subsequent emotions.






People experience negative emotions when blocked from achieving goals.






People experience negative emotions when blocked from achieving goals.

Lack of progress results in reduction in well-being (not the other way around).



Hope Theory



Hope Theory

When attainment of a goal is threatened, a person experiences stress.



Hope Theory

When attainment of a goal is threatened, a person experiences stress.

As a person begins to realize the “imperviousness of the barrier,” stress gives way to negative emotions.



Hope Theory



Hope Theory

False hope is “the state of having a desired goal and the requisite motivation (i.e. agency), but not having the plans to reach the goal”



Hope Theory



Hope TheoryHope theory suggests that the most appropriate goals for hope are ones that are not so easy to attain that achieving them is a “given” but that are not so lofty as to be unrealistic.



Hope Theory



Hope TheoryHope theory does, however, explore certain cases where people may pursue unattainable goals with the knowledge that the goal will not be met, but that the pursuit in itself will be satisfying.



Hope TheoryHope theory does, however, explore certain cases where people may pursue unattainable goals with the knowledge that the goal will not be met, but that the pursuit in itself will be satisfying.

Snyder offers an example in Christians who try to emulate the perfection of Christ.



Dominant paradigms in Environmental Philosophy

Eco Marxism





Most important political ideology today.





Often called “optimistic”






Works within Capitalism







Develop new technologies to “green” industry







Develop new technologies to “green” industry

Asks what change is needed within current institutions to create more sustainable societies.



Ecological ModernizationOffers society the solution of technology.




Solutions will arise as developments in technology become available.





Dependent on eventual realization by industrialism that its methods of production are not sustainable.






Government plays little role in restructuring.






Government plays little role in restructuring.

Self-regulating free market realizes its own faults.



Ecological ModernizationIs true hope possible?




Remember, hope is a rational response; optimism is irrational, belief-centered.





Optimism, as offered by E. M. removes most of the agentic powers of individuals & places the desired outcome in the hands of technology.





Optimism, as offered by E. M. removes most of the agentic powers of individuals & places the desired outcome in the hands of technology.

Similar to false hope: “I hope it doesn’t snow today!”




“The risk of hoping, but not being the agent bearing the responsibility for the fulfillment of that hope, is that it is difficult to evaluate progress toward the hoped-for goal or indeed whether it remains a realistic goal.”

Source: Drahos, P. (2004). Trading in public hope. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 592, 18.



E. M. principles can then be used as a tool to manipulate society, preventing any challenges to current policies.




E. M. principles can then be used as a tool to manipulate society, preventing any challenges to current policies.

There is no hope or cooperation in E. M. due to the overemphasis on technological developments to solve society’s problems.








Ecological Modernization does not allow for true hope.








There’ll be more later...Saturday, March 13, 2010


Optimism?

Hope?

Utopian visions?

Other?


Utopian Visions

Source: Pepper, D. (2005). Utopianism and environmentalism. Environmental Politics, 14(1), 3.


Utopian VisionsAll Environmentalism contains utopia as an end goal.




Utopianism is utilized in the environmental movement to “inspire hope”





Yet hope surrounds an attainable goal that can be reached by planning and realistic assessments.






Utopianism as offered by environmentalists undermines the true power of hope as a social change mechanism.






Utopianism as offered by environmentalists undermines the true power of hope as a social change mechanism.

Utopias as fantasy are devoid of social change potential.s



Source: Breyman, S. (1997). Social studies of science and activism: STS as campus greening movement. Philosophy and Social Action, 23(1), 5.


To be truly involved in the environmental movement for the duration that is required to create valuable change, the belief in utopia is

contradictory.



To be truly involved in the environmental movement for the duration that is required to create valuable change, the belief in utopia is

contradictory.


An honest assessment of the obstacles as required by substantial hope prevents both

unrealistic expectations and burn-out.


Possible sources of despair:We are sensitive and things are dying.







Utopian visions cannot inspire true hope.


So... How can we respond?


One possible strategy:


One possible strategy:

“making this choice cheats students of what they enter into a college classroom for in the first place—namely, frank, honest, and critical

discussions of pressing issues”



MeliorismWilliam James, John Dewey



The world is neither good nor bad in itself; it is only good or bad and only gets better or worse as a result of human intervention and action.





Focused on action and incremental change






De-emphasizes the false dualism of optimism and pessimism






De-emphasizes the false dualism of optimism and pessimism

Allows us to remain grounded and realistically cognizant of the depth and breadth of challenges and at the same time keep hope.




“Melior ism tends to undercut the defeatist,

alarmist, and generally depressing appraisals of the

future by encouraging us to invest in the possibility of possibility”



the possibility of possibility


Meliorism



MeliorismUtopian ideal is peripheral to a sound perspective of smaller goals that are visibly achievable by individuals and groups.




Challenges pessimism and optimism as well as Eco Marxism and E. M. by replacing defeatism and utopianism with opportunity.




Challenges pessimism and optimism as well as Eco Marxism and E. M. by replacing defeatism and utopianism with opportunity.

Can be a mechanism of providing hope:

Awareness of obstacles

Ability to see reward in small changes

Attentiveness to larger goal




Hope

Meliorism

Humor


Tragedy vs. Comedy




Hope

Meliorism

Humor

Other?


Hope and Despair in Environmental Issues

Education

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