Psychologists and the problem of population growth: Reply to Bridgeman (2017)

Susan Clayton; Amanda Carrico; Linda Steg; Janet K Swim; Mirilia Bonnes; Patrick Devine-Wright

doi:10.1037/amp0000152

Psychologists and the problem of population growth: Reply to Bridgeman (2017)

Am Psychol. 2017 May-Jun;72(4):388-389. doi: 10.1037/amp0000152.

Authors

Susan Clayton¹, Amanda Carrico², Linda Steg³, Janet K Swim⁴, Mirilia Bonnes⁵, Patrick Devine-Wright⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, The College of Wooster.
² Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado at Boulder.
³ Department of Social Psychology, Gröningen University.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University.
⁵ Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome.
⁶ Department of Geography, Life, and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter.

PMID: 28481585
DOI: 10.1037/amp0000152

Abstract

Bridgeman (2017) describes the important role of population growth in contributing to environmental problems. The present essay argues that population is an important component of human impact on the environment, but it must be considered in combination with consumption rates. A place-based approach, examining the local context for reproductive decisions, is necessary to assess population growth as a contributor to environmental impact and to develop appropriate behavioral interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record

MeSH terms

Environment*
Humans
Population
Population Dynamics*
Population Growth*
Psychology