to view the text content of this presentation, go to “view > notes page.”
TRANSCRIPT
What Social Sciences can teach us about teaching our students
about Climate Change
To view the text content of this presentation,
go to “View > Notes Page.”
Social Science of Climate Change:
Samuel Clay Wallace, Geography InstructorMontgomery County Community College, PA
Currently, 98% of US Federal funding for research on Climate Change, goes to Natural and Physical Sciences.
Currently, 98% of US Federal funding for research on Climate Change, goes to Natural and Physical Sciences.
Most of the remaining 2% goes to research on
anthropogenic causes, probable impacts on humans
& human responses.
Social Science of Climate Change:
decision science findings psychological reactions to natural
disasters
Decision Science:Social Science of how humans
Think and Feel their way to decisions
George Marsh, 1864
Rachel Carson, 1962
Natural Exposure
Group Decisions
Moral Decline
Finite Worry
What community lifestyle would increase our happiness?
What community lifestyle would increase our happiness?
Are these more adaptive, mitigating
lifestyles?
Conclusion:
Include safe exposure to nature if possible.
Start decision making in groups, not as individuals.
Address concerns of moral decline through environmental ethics or strengthening communities.
Start with the benefits of climate change, adaptation and mitigation.
Combine the above through service learning?
Psychological Responses to
Nature
Psychological Reactions to
Natural Disasters
Psychological Reactions to
Natural Disasters denial
relinquishment control
Arroyo Tapiado, San Diego, CA
Measuring Reactions
Floods are the most common natural disaster.
Floods occur most frequently.
Floods occur in the most locations.
Desert DrowningsJuly 20, 2010
1993 Mississippi Floods
St. Louis, MO 1991 St. Louis, MO 1993
Relinquishment to God
Southwestern IL, 1993
Relinquishment to Government
Bay St. Louis, MS 2007
Relinquishment Can WorkSte. Genevieve, MO 1993
Relinquishment Could Work1992 Hurricane Andrew Hurricane Preparations
Controlling Floods?
Missouri Basin control dams New Orleans levee breaks
Conclusion:
Each of the three psychological reactions to natural disaster,denial,relinquishment to God or to government, &attempts to control nature,
is partially helpful.
Denial lets us ignore negligible hazards.
Relinquishment allows for specialization of emergency labor.
Controls can reduce deaths and damage costs.
Any of these taken to extreme, however, puts us at risk.
Conclusion:
What learning about Climate Change are you taking back?
What suggestions about reaching your studentsare you taking back?
