Psychology in a warmer world

Abstract

This paper focuses on crises in man’s relationship with nature. Crises that have consequences for people’s lives, minds, and well-being - now and in the future. It is maintained that psychology is partly to be blamed for these problems since it has contributed to creating the concept of an autonomous human individual separated from the realm of nature. It is argued that psychology now has a responsibility, not only for treating psychological reactions to ecological crises but also for developing new comprehensions of changed conditions for human life and, more fundamentally, man in his relationship with nature. The dualism between man and nature is accounted for as one of several reflections of the dualist thinking predominant in present psychology. Instead, a re-naturalised critical and materialist psychology is outlined: A psychology that remains true to the premise that man is but a tiny part of nature while still emphasising man’s unique societal nature and responsibility.