Human Behaviour and Environment

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Estimated total time commitment (including non-contact time): 80 hours.

Students undertaking this subject will be expected to regularly access an internet-enabled computer to access readings, class information and data.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject explores psychological and social dimensions of environmental sustainability and landscape and ecosystem management. The subject examines the ways humans experience, interact and behave in the physical environment. This is done by exploring psycho-social dimensions of human-environment interactions examining frameworks for understanding landscape perception and environmentally significant behaviour. Topics include: psychological bases for environmental values, aesthetics and preference management and design implications of how humans experience a range of environments; understanding environmental concern and environmentally significant action and strategies for encouraging environmentally sustainable behaviours.

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Describe factors that influence the ways people value the environment.
• Discuss design and management implications of human experience for urban, rural and natural ecosystems and landscapes.
• Analyse factors that contribute to public support and opposition to environmental practice and policy.
• Analyse factors that encourage or discourage environmentally sustainable behaviour.
• Design appropriate strategies for encouraging pro-environment behaviour.

1000 word take home examination (30%) during the exam period. Two assignments, each 1500 words (70%) submitted in weeks 5 and 10.

Subject reader.

Gardner, G. T., & Stern, P. C. (2002). Environmental problems and human behavior (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Koger, S. M., & Winter, D. D. N. (2010). The psychology of environmental problems: psychology for sustainability (3rd ed.). New York: Psychology Press.

Winter, D. and Koger, W (2004). The Psychology of Environmental Problems. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Steg, L., van den Berg, A.E. and de Groot, J.I.M (2013). Environmental Psychology. Chichester UK: BPS Blackwell.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Music

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

This course encompasses particular generic skills. On completion of the course students should have:

• Moderate capacity to interpret and apply information from a range of sources to better understand human behaviour.
• High level written communication.
• Basic skills in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Moderate level ability to synthesise data with other information.
• Moderate level ability to apply theory to practice.

This subject replaces 207205 Human Dimensions of Resource Management.