PSYCH253 Chapter : Module D- Social Psychology and the Sustainable Future.docx

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH253
• Professor: Steve Spencer

Document Summary

Module d: social psychology and the sustainable future. Two routes to sustainable lifestyles: increasing technological efficiency and agricultural productivity, moderating consumption and decreasing population. Social psychology can help point the way to greater well-being by documenting materialism, by informing people that economic growth does not automatically improve human morale, and by helping people understand why materialism and money fail to satisfy. In poor countries- where low income more often threatens basic human needs- being relatively well off does predict greater well-being. Compared with poor countries, income matters little for affluent countries. Once a comfortable income level is reached, more and more money provides diminishing long-term returns. Economic growth in affluent countries has provided no apparent boost in human morale. Adaptation-level phenomenon: the tendency to adapt to a given level of stimulation and thus to notice and react to changes from that level. As our achievements rise above our past levels, we feel successful and satisfied.