Recognizing the Role of Positive Emotions in Fostering Environmentally Responsible Behaviors

摘要

Existing environmental problems, such as climate change and spe-ncies extinction, are partially the result of human behavior. Attemptsnto motivate people to alter environmentally damaging behaviors havenprimarily relied on the summoning of negative emotions. In thisnopinion article, the author proposes a hypothesis describing empir-nical evidence, showing how positive emotions can be more effective atninspiring environmentally responsible behaviors. Fredrickson’snBroaden-and-Build theory of positive emotions is used to demon-nstrate how cultivated positive emotions can expand individualnawareness of their connections to Earth’s living systems, increasentheir capacity to creatively and effectively address environmentalnproblems, and help them recognize that wellbeing and environmentalnhealth go hand in hand.