Human-to-nature relationship is psychology

[luke_in67]

The one discipline that, sad to say, has hitherto remained virtually untouched by any concern for the environment or the human-to-nature relationship is psychology. You will search in vain in the texts and journals of any of the major schools of psychology—clinical, behaviorist, cognitive, physiological, humanistic or transpersonal—for any theory or research concerning the most basic fact of human existence: the fact of our relationship to the natural world of which we are a part.
Any thoughts on whether your relationship with nature is or should be a genuine concern?

[melody]

Hello luke_in67 ,

Thank you for starting a very interesting topic. I have always liked being in the nature and felt that it replenished me, made me whole, and even elevated me to some higher level. Yet a number of times I found myself in a company of people who had absolutely no relationship to nature. They felt uncomfortable and were yearning to get back to their urban environment as it offered daily comforts and safety - from unpredictable weather, wild life, black flies as well as a significant reduction in mosquito bites.

I believe there is now a growing population of mainly poor people inside mega cities and ghettos who have never been away from a city and have absolutely no concept of what being in the nature is. But even for many of those who have been outside of urban settings, nature unfortunately represents nothing more than a commodity - a source of raw materials for their everyday needs and comforts.

There is a big disconnect between the majority of peoples’ daily lives and the understanding that we, as human beings, are a part of nature, are connected to it, and cannot survive without it. No advances in medicine or unnatural food inventions and preparations would sustain our lives if we destroy our natural environment.

Too bad that many people have now lost the sense of connectedness to the nature, and see no personal value in such a connection.

[Adrian]

Hello,

I agree, in fact the key is "connectedness" in absolute terms, Almost all adverse conditions exist in the world today due to people seeing other people and "things" as separate from themselves and treating them accordingly.

If people would understand, once and for all, that everything is one, and what they do to others they do to themselves, the world would be a better place. As it is, there is no long remaining for people to realise and practice these truths.

In Lak'ech,

Adrian.
 

[julio9u14]

I’ve been working on Ecopsychology and closely associated with “Institute of Global Education” special NGO consultant to the United Nations Economic and Social Council.  Their site is www.ecopsych.com The web site provides a great deal of information about human ecology and the organic application of ecopsychology and ecotherapy.

[melody]

Hello julio9u14,

Thank you for the info.
I'll be checking the webside you suggested!

[Nick]

It's good to read that courses, such as the ones on the ecopsych website, are made available as a series of studies.

For example:

WEB SITE TOPICS: Ecopsychology in Action: News, Degrees, Training Courses, Jobs, Books and Grants for Organic Gaia Psychology Therapists, Nature Deficit Disorder, Interdisciplinary Earth Wisdom Study, Peace Corps, Graduate Schools, Environmental and Human Services CEU, Holistic Outdoor Counseling, The Secret Natural Law of Attraction, War on Terrorism, Climate Change Answers, Sustainable Soul Coaching, Stress Relief Management, Natural Health and Wellness, Inner and Global Peace, Alternative Education Grants, Debt Solution Money, Global Warming Remedies and Organic Leadership Consciousness.

Thanks for the weblink Julio.