Introducing Climate Psychology: facing the climate crisis

It is now widely accepted that facts about climate change, taken alone, do not promote change. There is growing recognition that deeper psychological perspectives, beyond traditional psychological approaches, could enrich environment movements. Additionally, evidence is building that climate change can lead to negative consequences for mental health and wellbeing. Taking a critical eco-psycho-social perspective you will explore ideas from social theory, psychoanalysis, ecopsychology, eco-feminism and post-humanism to gain a deeper understanding of the climate and ecological crisis, its impact on our wellbeing and how to build psychological resilience.

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• understand why the climate and ecological crisis has developed
• recognise the emotional and behavioural responses to the climate and ecological crisis
• identify the individual and cultural defences that prevent engagement with the crisis
• develop a personal action plan to enable the ability to cope with and adapt to the crisis.

This course is endorsed and supported by the Climate Psychology Alliance .