4809922: CF_Environmental Psychology and Decisions: Application to Green Architecture & Urban Greening

Description

The course conveys psychological theories, methods and knowledge in the context of environmental issues. Behavioral and conceptual decision-making is considered from different perspectives (e.g. psychology, game theory) and in different contexts.
The course is structured by focusing decision making on ascending levels of human regulatory systems:
1. Individual-level models (psychological theories and modeling, communication and public campaigns, leisure activities, green infrastructure and green spaces and health and well-being, waste disposal and recycling behavior)
2. Group level models (psychological theories and modeling, group think phenomena, group techniques, decision process analyses)
3. Community-level approaches (Collective Action Theory)
Theories are presented in application oriented contexts focusing for example waste disposal and recycling, sustainable food consumption or green infrastructure and urban green-space use and planning. Solution oriented approaches towards influencing environmental behavior (environmental education, communication, campaigns) and improving group processes (Groupthink phenomena, Group Techniques) and collective action shall complement theoretical parts aiming at explaining and modeling behavior and decisions. As own contribution students shall autonomously apply the conveyed knowledge in small projects conducted in groups or present scientific literature centered round the course topics in student lectures finishing the course.

Learning Outcomes

• Acquisition of knowledge of psychological theories and models for explaining and understanding (environmental) behavior (Approaches covered include e.g. Theory of planned behavior, Norm activation Theory, Neutralization Theory), and collective decision making processes.
• Gaining psychological knowledge helpful for promoting positive environmental behaviors and sustainability oriented collective problem solving.
• Gaining methodological knowledge for conducting surveys or experiments and corresponding experience.
• Gaining experience in the study of scientific psychological literature.
• Presentation and cooperation skills

Lectures Method

The course will start with interactive input-lectures by the Lecturer. On this basis students subsequently define their work-packages in cooperation with the lecturer. This can be either a presentation based on a scientific (or applied science-based) text related to the course topic (some suggestions will be provided, but students can suggest own texts) or the definition and accomplishment of a small project in groups of 2 to4 persons (e.g. conducting (expert) interviews or a survey; developing a concept, making a small experiment). Projects respectively project-outcomes will also be presented by the students in the final phase of the course.

Comments

Cross-faculty elective subject:
Notice the special Multi-stage allocation process.