Science and Environment: A Psychological Perspective

The process of modernization and industrialization have brought several challenges along with the progress and development such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource depletion.Scientists and experts are working to find solutions for these issues yet their success depends on the way people think and act in society.There is need to understand the psychological mechanisms that shape how human beings and societies perceive, interpret, and act upon the environmental understanding before these experts can use their scientific knowledge and technical expertise to work toward environmental sustainability.This chapter examines how psychological research establishes links between scientific knowledge and environmental understanding.The study uses findings from recent research studies in environmental psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology and positive psychology.The study identifies how environmental behaviour develops through different attitudes, perception, emotions, motivation, social norms and cultural values.The research findings show how psychological theories can improve environmental education and sustainable development through their application in environmental science and psychological research to solve present-day environmental challenges.