The contribution of psychology in connecting the civic and environmental dimensions of sustainability

Abstract

This paper examines the role of social sciences, and in particular that of psychology, in analyzing and defining the concept of sustainability and understanding ways of promoting sustainable human attitudes and behaviors. It is argued that there is a crucial interdependence between the civic and environmental dimensions of sustainable communities and that in this respect we need to explore how psychological bridging mechanisms between citizens, their communities and their environments can help build new pathways to individual and planetary wellbeing.