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Abstract
Anxiety and distress about the ecological crisis seems to be a rapidly growing phenomenon. This article analyzes the challenges and possibilities posed by such “eco-anxiety” for environmental education. Variations of eco-anxiety are analyzed, and it is argued that educators should be aware of the multiple forms that the phenomenon has. Eco-anxiety is found to be closely connected with many difficult emotions, such as grief, guilt, anger, and despair. However, anxiety also has an adaptive dimension, which can be called “practical anxiety”. Anxiety is connected with expectation, motivation, and hopes. Previous research about eco-anxiety and ecological emotions in various disciplines is discussed, and related studies from various fields of education are brought together. Based on this extensive literature review, theoretical analyses are made, using a philosophical method. It is argued that environmental educators need organizational and peer support both in relation to their own difficult emotions and in order to develop emotional skills in their work. Educators should first practice self-reflection about eco-anxiety, after which they have many possibilities to help their audiences to develop emotional resilience. Potential practical activities related to eco-anxiety are discussed, drawing from various fields of education. These include validation of eco-anxiety and ecological emotions, providing safe spaces to discuss them, and, if possible, providing embodied and creative activities to more fully deliberate on them.
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Adams M, Morgan J. Mental Health Recovery and Nature: How Social and Personal Dynamics Are Important. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1089/eco.2017.0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Adams
- School of Applied Social Science, University of Brighton, Falmer, UK
| | - Julie Morgan
- School of Applied Social Science, University of Brighton, Falmer, UK
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Sussman R. Deeper Than Our Differences: The Five Common Factors of Ecopsychology. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1089/eco.2014.0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rain Sussman
- John F. Kennedy University, Pleasant Hill, California
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Reese G. When Authoritarians Protect the Earth—Authoritarian Submission and Proenvironmental Beliefs: A Pilot Study in Germany. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2012. [DOI: 10.1089/eco.2012.0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Adams M. A Social Engagement: How Ecopsychology Can Benefit From Dialogue With the Social Sciences. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2012. [DOI: 10.1089/eco.2012.0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Adams
- School of Applied Social Science, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
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