In this groundbreaking book, Renee Lertzman applies psychoanalytic theory and psychosocial research to the issue of public engagement and public apathy in response to chronic ecological threats. By highlighting unconscious and affective dimensions of contemporary ecological issues, Lertzman deconstructs the idea that there is a gap between what people care about and what is actually carried out in policy and personal practice. In doing so, she presents an innovative way to think about and design engagement practices and policy interventions.
Key Features
- Provides a psychosocial, psychoanalytic perspective on subjectivity, affect and identity.
- Considers the implications for understanding behaviour in relation to environmental crises and climate change.
- Argues for a theory of environmental melancholia, addressing profound loss and disruption caused by environmental issues.
- Offers a fresh perspective to the field of environmental psychology.
Additional Information
Based on key qualitative fieldwork and in-depth interviews conducted in Green Bay, Wisconsin, each chapter provides insights into the complexities of public engagement with environmental issues. The book will appeal to academics, researchers and postgraduate students in the fields of psychoanalysis, psychosocial studies and sustainability, as well as policy makers and educators internationally.
