Goals: 1. To provide the students with a sound understanding of ecology as a science as it pertains to ecopsychology.

Transcription

1 ECOPSYCHOLOGY ES 129 Winter 2012 Instructor: Dr. Lori Pye University of California at Santa Barbara Environmental Science Department Class Sessions: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 10:45am (Jan 10 March 15 th ) Location: Girvets 2127 Office Hours: Thursday: 10:45-11:45am, BREN 4003 (on the 4L floor) Phone: Loripye@gmail.com COURSE DESCRIPTION: It seems that some of the primary questions we, as individuals and as a culture, are just beginning to ask are: How and why are we separate from nature, from each other. And, why are we destroying the very planet we rely on for survival - in other words, why are we eco-suicidal? These seem to be inter-related questions. We may all have a sense that there is not just one answer. It is an entire mythology, or if you prefer - an entire world view, that has to die for a new one to come into being. Our new myth of nature and of human nature is not yet in place. This course will offer comparisons from principles of depth psychology with corresponding principles in biology and ecology in order to help us understand how metaphors and images can either hold a framework or mythology in place, or stimulate the creation of a change in attitudes and behaviors, in other words - the creation of a new mythology toward the natural world. The course will explore the individual and community as ecosystems in order to widen perspectives on the ecopsychology of a global community. We ll discuss core principles of ecopsychology and how they relate to depth psychology, systems thinking, and how one s manner of dwelling determines and affects the formation of a personal ecosystem. We will discuss ideas for how and why change is required for ecosystem health. We will explore and discuss how a sustainable psychological system encourages the development of sustainable natural systems, organizational systems, political and educational systems. Goals & Objectives: We will explore the interaction between the human culture and the natural world and examine how what lives in the psyche of individuals ultimately has an impact on nature and vice versa. At the end of the course, students should be able to understand how some of the concepts of ecology are similar to those of depth psychology and the significance of the connections to the human psyche. The student will be able to discuss C.G. Jung s statement that psyche is Nature, the relationship between nature and women, basic concepts and application for ecopsychology and how to apply basic tenants to their daily psychological lives. Students will receive instruction in ecological principles as they relate to psychology and discuss a) the concept of psyche and nature, b) the loss of humanity s connection to and with Nature, c) consequences on the human psyche by this split, d) possible methods for healing this split and how reconnection might affect one s psychological life. Goals: 1. To provide the students with a sound understanding of ecology as a science as it pertains to ecopsychology. 1

2 2. To provide students with a basic understanding of depth psychology as it pertains to ecopsychology, this will include an historical overview of the field. 3. To sharpen the student s working knowledge of natural history with regards to observation and interpretation skills. 4. To expand the student s sense of imagination, aesthetics and ethics. 5. To deepen the student s sense of their personal ecosystem and how they engage and build relationships based upon this inner view. 6. To provide basic ecopsychological tools for the student to draw upon outside of this course to further explore their inner life. Objectives: As a result of this course, students should be able to: By the completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Define the term system, and differentiate between sustainable and unsustainable systems. 2. Define and demonstrate an understanding of the five Ecopsychological Principles. 3. Critically examine and evaluate ecopsychological ideas and concepts and potential applications. 4. Demonstrate understanding for ecological and psychological ecosystems. 5. Articulate how you can apply Ecopsychology concepts in the world today Texts: Curry, Patrick. Ecological Ethics. Cambridge:Polity Press, 2009 Ehrenfeld, John. Sustainability by Design: A Subversive Strategy for Transforming Our Consumer Culture. New Haven:Yale University Press, 2008 Sabini, Meredeth. Ed. The Earth Has A Soul: Nature Writings of C.G. Jung. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA., 2002 Selected Readings: James Hillman, Elizabeth Kolbert, Goethe, Darwin, Shepherd, Laszlo, Curry, Homer, Aesclepius, Rousseau, Pye. Requirements: Your class grade is based on final paper on related topics, or project (50%), a class journal (20%), and class participation and discussion (30%). Assessment: The student s achievement of the above learning objectives will be assessed using the following assignments: 1. Attendance & Participation in classroom activities & discussions, complete reading assignments, inclass journal activities. (Learning Objectives 1-5). 2. Final Paper or Project: Choose one of the following for your final assignment: a page paper on Ecopsychology Instructor will discuss this in class. b. Ecopsychology Project in UCSB community / local. Regional/global. To be discussed in class. 2

3 Guidelines for a Final Paper: 10 pages max with citations with Reference page - APA style and format. Well written meaning proper grammaer, punctuation, clarity of thoguht. Academic Integrity Statement: Plagiarism is the representation of someone else's writing, graphics, research, or ideas as one s own. Paraphrasing an author s ideas or quoting even limited portions of the work of others without proper citation are considered plagiarism. Extreme forms of plagiarism include submitting a paper written by another person or from a commercial source, or turning in a paper comprising selections from other sources without appropriate acknowledgement of those sources. Plagiarism is a violation of the principle of intellectual integrity and inquiry and, as such, is taken seriously when it occurs. If there is any question about the nature of plagiarism, students are encouraged to meet with their advisors or course instructors for clarification. Each program faculty also provides students with access to appropriate resources. Confidentiality Statement: Classes at University of California Santa Barbara include interactive elements, drawing on the rich experiences of faculty and student alike. Often in the course of these discussions, information of a personal nature is shared. It is the expectation of the University that such information will remain confidential, allowing all to share freely without fear of disclosure outside the classroom. Breaches of confidentiality damage the building of community and trust. Absence Policy: More than two unexcused absences will result in a no credit /grade evaluation. If you are absent, you will need to make up the work by next class meeting. See Professor. CLASS SCHEDULE: Week 1 Jan 10/12 Readings: Ch 1 & 2 Sabini/ Jung Ch. 1 Curry Ch 1 Ehrenfeld Introduction and Foundations What is Ecology/Ecopsychology/Depth Psychology? Who is C.G. Jung? Introduce four basic ecological principles and examine how they resonate with some of the core ideas of depth psychology: 1) Everything runs on energy 2) Biodiversity is necessary 3) There is no waste in nature 4) Everything is connected 5) Time change is inevitable Ecology: Systems Thinking nature and human nature systems. Ecosystem definition Depth Psychology: What the Greeks thought: What is our manner of dwelling within various systems (self, family home, region, country, etc.)? Terms: observation, awareness, consciousness, perception, projection, metaphors 3

4 Week 2 Jan 17/19 Readings: Ch. 3 Jung Ch. 2 Curry & Ehrenfeld Ecology: Organisms and their environment (physical environment, biosphere) Everything runs on energy psyche, cities, machines and nature Week 3 Jan 24/26 Ch. 4 Jung Ch. 3 Curry / Ehrenfeld Everything Runs on Energy, Ecology Part II energy flow, environmental variations Depth Psychology - Libido, Life force, transformational processes, loss of energy Ecopsychological applications - How ecological metaphors inform this psychological processes Week 4 Jan 31 Ch. 5 Jung Ch. 4 Curry 4 & 5 Ehrenfeld Ecology: Populations (history, distribution, growth/regulation) Biodiversity in Necessary - nature and human psyche/archetypes Week 5 Feb 7/9 Ch. 6 Jung Ch. 5 & 6 Curry 6 & 7 Ehrenfeld Biodiversity in Necessary, Ecology Part II population dynamics Depth Psychology archetypes / archaea in nature, soul /soil, nature myths Ecopsychological applications - How ecological metaphors inform psychological processes Week 6 Feb 14/16 Ch. 7 Jung Ch. 7 & 8 Curry 8 & 9 Ehrenfeld Ecology: Interactions Among Organisms (competition, predation) There is No Waste In Nature - Ecology and psychopathology (affect, complex, depression/addiction) Week 7 Feb 21/23 Ch. 8 Jung Ch. 8 & 9 Curry 10 & 11 Ehrenfeld There is No Waste in Nature, Ecology Part II parasitism, mutualism Depth Psychology Falling apart, Seeing Thru Ecopsychology - How ecological metaphors inform this psychological processes Week 8 Feb 28 Ch. 10 & 11 Curry 12 & 13 Ehrenfeld Ecology: Communities/ Ecosystems (the nature of communities, change) Everything is Connected 4

5 Depth Psychology psychological resilience, restoration, relationships Ecopsychology How ecological metaphors inform this psychological processes Week 9 March 1 Change is Inevitable Ch. 12 Curry 14 & 15 Ehrenfeld Week 10 March 6/8 Sustainable Design Ch. 16, 17, 18 Ehrenfeld Week 11 March 13/15 FINAL DAY Wrap up Q&A Ecopsychology papers / projects due March 30 th Late papers will not be accepted 5