Prerequisits:

Second-cycle Bologna degree in the relevant track or a university (level VII) degree.

Content (Syllabus outline):

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

The content will be organized in four sections:

• Introduction to Environmental Behaviour Research
  • Environmental behaviour: historical overview, overview of current topics and methods
  • Factors affecting environmental behaviour
  • Measurement of environmental behaviour
  • Values and environmental behaviour
  • Norms and environmental behaviour
  • Models of environmental behaviour
• Promoting environmentally friendly behaviour
  • Information strategies to promote environmentally friendly behaviour
  • Structural strategies to promote environmentally friendly behaviour
• Environmental influences on human behaviour 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, London.
• Bechtel, R. B., Churchman, A. (eds.) (2002). Handbook of environmental psychology. Wiley, New York.
• BlueHealth (2021). Urban blue spaces: Planning and design for water, health and wellbeing. University of Exeter, Exeter.
• Brick, C., Nielsen, K. S., Berger, S., Henn, L. (2024). Current research practices on pro-environmental behavior: A survey of environmental psychologists. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 88, 102547.
• Gatersleben, B., Murtagh, N. (eds.) (2023). Handbook on pro-environmental behaviour change. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
• Gardner, G. T., Stern, P. C. (2002). Environmental problems and human behavior. Pearson Custom Publishing, Boston.
• Martinez, J., Mikkelsen, C. A., Phillips, R. (eds.) (2021). Handbook of quality of life and sustainability. Springer, Cham.
• Polajnar Horvat, K. (2015). Okolju prijazno vedenje. Georitem Založba ZRC, Ljubljana.
• Polič, M. (2003). Okoljska psihologija (delovno gradivo). ~200 str.
• Roe, J., McCay, L. (2021). Restorative cities: Urban design for mental health and wellbeing. Bloomsbury, London.
• Schutte, A. R., Torquati, J. C., Stevens, J. R. (eds.) (2021). Nature and psychology: Biological, cognitive, developmental, and social pathways to well-being. Springer, Cham.

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 behaviour, the history of their research and current topics that they can recognize in today’s area. We will focus on deepening our knowledge of environmental behaviour factors and models that explain an individual’s behaviour. Candidates are briefed on basic methods of studying environmental behaviour, including methods that can promote environmentally friendly behaviour, enabling them to more easily understand human activity and related environmental problems. In addition, they acquire the skills to identify environmental influences on human behaviour 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 behaviour in order to understand and solve environmental problems
• the relationship between human behaviour and the environment
• basics of environmental behaviour research history
• basic approaches for measuring environmental behaviour
• environmental behaviour factors
• environmental behaviour models (being able to identify which models are successful in examining individual behaviours)
• strategies for promoting environmental behaviour (critical appraisal of their use)
• the environmental (physical, social and cultural) effects on human behaviour
• 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 %)

Lecturer’s references:

• Admiraal, J., Polajnar Horvat, K., et al. 2018: Motivations for committed nature conservation action in Europe. Environmental conservation, 44-2. DOI: 10.1017/S037689291700008X.
• Fornara, F., Polajnar Horvat, K., et al. 2020: The extended Value-Belief-Norm theory predicts committed action for nature and biodiversity in Europe. Environmental impact assessment review, 81. DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2019.106338.
• Molinario, E., Polajnar Horvat, K., et al. 2019: Motivations to act for the protection of nature biodiversity and the environment: a matter of “significance”. Environment & behavior, 31. DOI: 10.1177/0013916518824376.
• Polajnar Horvat, K. 2012: Oblikovanje modela razvoja okoljske ozaveščenosti in okolju prijaznega vedenja. Geografski vestnik, 84-2.
• Polajnar Horvat, K. 2014: Vloga socialnih dejavnikov pri razvoju okoljske ozaveščenosti in spreminjanju okoljskega vedenja. Doktorska disertacija. Univerza v Ljubljani. Ljubljana.
• Polajnar Horvat, K., Smrekar, A., Zorn, M. 2014: The development of environmental thought in Slovenia: a short overview = Razvoj ekološke, okolišne misli u Sloveniji: kratki pregled. Ekonomska i ekohistorija: časopis za gospodarsku povijest i povijest okoliša, 10-10.