Oddelek za predmete: Human Geography

Prerequisits:

• Second-cycle Bologna degree in the relevant track or a university (level VII) degree.
• Enrolment in the first or the second year of study programme;
• Before the exam, students have to present a seminar work in front of other students.

Content (Syllabus outline):

The course focuses on human environmental behavior, most notably the relationship between an individual and his or her physical environment, which is increasingly degraded today. In order to tackle today’s increasingly pressing environmental problems, understanding the human dimensions of environmental behavior and its environmental implications, understanding what motivates people to environmental behavior, what strategies are more successful in promoting environmentally-friendly behavior, and learning about environmental impacts is crucial human behavior.

The content will be organized in four sections:

Introduction to Environmental Behavior Research

• Environmental behavior: historical overview, overview of current topics and methods

Factors affecting environmental behavior

• Measurement of environmental behavior
• Values and environmental behavior
• Norms and environmental behavior
• Models of environmental behavior

Promoting environmentally friendly behavior

• Information strategies to promote environmentally friendly behavior
• Structural strategies to promote environmentally friendly behavior

Environmental influences on human behavior and quality of life

• Relaxation environments
• Visual assessment of the landscape and human perception of the landscape
• Environment and quality of life

Readings:

• Abrahamse, W. 2019: Encouraging Pro-environmental Behavior. Academic Press.
• Bechtel R.B., Churchman A. (Eds.)(2002). Handbook of Environmental Psychology, New York: Wiley.
• Gardner, T., G., Stern, C., P. 2002: Enviromental problems and human behavior. Boston: Perason Custom Publishing.
• Polajnar Horvat, K. 2015: Okolju prijazno vedenje. Georitem 26. Ljubljana.
• Polič M. (2003), Okoljska psihologija, (delovno gradivo, ki obravnava v programu zajete vsebine), 200 str.
• Steg, L., Van den Berg, A., E., De Groot, J., I., M. (eds.) 2012: Environmental psychology. Wiley-Blackwell.

Objectives and competences:

The objective of the course is to provide the candidate with the latest and in-depth theoretical knowledge in the field of environmental behavior, the history of his / her research and current topics that he / she can recognize in today’s area. We will focus on deepening our knowledge of environmental behavior factors and models that explain an individual’s behavior. Candidates are briefed on basic methods of studying environmental behavior, including methods that can promote environmentally friendly behavior, enabling them to more easily understand human activity and related environmental problems. In addition, he acquires the skills to identify environmental influences on human behavior and quality of life. The candidate is trained in independent, professional, critical and responsible work, which is also important for the preparation of a doctoral dissertation.

Intended learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding:

• theoretical basics of environmental behavior in order to understand and solve environmental problems
• the relationship between human behavior and the environment
• basics of environmental behavior research history
• basic approaches for measuring environmental behavior
• environmental behavior factors
• environmental behavior models (being able to identify which models are successful in examining individual behaviors)
• strategies for promoting environmental behavior (critical appraisal of their use)
• the environmental (physical, social and cultural) effects on human behavior
• environmental impacts on quality of life
• ability to critically evaluate and weigh the individual theory, model, method

Learning and teaching methods:

Types of learning/teaching:

• Frontal teaching
• Work in smaller groups or pair work
• Independent students work

Teaching methods:

• Explanation
• Conversation/discussion/debate
• Case studies
• Different presentation
• Inviting guests from companies

Assessment:

• Long written assignments (30 %)
• Presentations (10 %)
• Final examination (written/oral) (60 %)