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Dear Dr. Kennedy,
Carol Boggs recommended that I contact you about a course I am developing in
collaboration with Tom Robinson (School of Medicine professor). We are
pursuing the possibility of listing it in Human Biology, and thought that Earth
Systems might also be interested in offering/cross-listing it. Specifically, the
course relates to how to modify human behavior to reduce the severity of climate
change.
Below I have provided a rough overview of what we envision. Note that the list of
potential “guest lecturers” (see below) originally worked together on a grant
proposal (which I’ve attached in case it’s useful) on the same topic as this
proposed course. Also note that because of Tom Robinson’s expertise in
changing health-related behaviors, the course might emphasize “mutually
beneficial behaviors”, i.e., it might focus on changing behaviors that address the
problem of climate change, as well as health problems (e.g., obesity).
Please let me know if I can provide further information, and, if you believe Earth
Systems might be interested in this course, how to follow up. The course is in its
formative stage, so we could consider changes to make it fit better with your
curriculum.
Sincerely,
Carrie Armel
Postdoctoral Fellow, Economics & Psychology Depts.
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Course Title: Motivating Changes in Behavior to Address Current Problems
Facing Humanity: Climate Change
Instructors:
Tom Robinson, Professor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine
Carrie Armel, Postdoctoral Fellow, Economics and Psychology Departments
Course Objectives.
A significant reduction in greenhouse gases can be achieved by motivating
individuals to modify their personal behavior (e.g., driving less). In the first
quarter of this course, findings and methods are reviewed from several fields that
have been most effective at changing behavior in the real world. Students also
develop ideas for applying these principles to modify climate change related
behaviors. This survey and development work is achieved through readings and
discussions led by leaders in each field. In the second quarter, students
translate these principles into an intervention (e.g., at a local high school) in an
attempt to modify real world behavior. Students also develop metrics and
measure behavior in order to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention. (This
course has a service learning component.)
Course Schedule:
The course lasts two quarters (students would not be required to take the second
quarter), most likely offered winter and spring of 2007, with the possibility of
being offered annually (in which case the problem topic could vary). The first
quarter is held as a seminar, and the second quarter combines field work with
discussion sections. Classes would meet twice a week.
A sample syllabus for the first quarter, by week: (Note: Generally, guest lecturers
would speak for one of the two classes each week, and Robinson, Armel, and
the students would lead discussions in the second class.)
1. An overview, focusing on intervention design, in order to provide a goaldirected framework for the course. (Robinson & Armel)
2. Climate change science and policy: The essentials. (Schneider & Ehrlich).
3. Identify target behaviors and ways of overcoming barriers to them.
Develop metrics, baselines, and ways of providing feedback.
(Mastrandrea, Armel, Robinson)
4. Education. Identify and simplify the essential concepts that emphasize the
veracity of climate change and urgency of action. Apply educational tools
to improve comprehension, motivation, and memory. (Shrager; perhaps
Richard Shavelson education faculty)
5. Consumer behavior and neuroeconomics. Relevant consumer behavior &
advertising findings (Shiv); perhaps relevant neuroscience findings (Shiv,
Armel, & perhaps Brian Knutson psychology faculty).
6. Social psychology. Topics include psychological research on the
perception of norms, traits of an effective spokesperson, etc. (Monin)
7. Education entertainment & video media. Social cognitive theory and
education entertainment (Bandura); relevant cinematic theory (Kris
Samuelson).
8. Behavioral health medicine I. Bringing it all together: designing an
intervention (Robinson).
9. Behavioral health medicine II. Implementing and evaluating an
intervention (Robinson).
10. Quantitative sociology. Studying the diffusion of norms (Rao, Ehrlich,
perhaps Mark Granovetter sociology faculty.)
Brief Research Biographies for Course Instructors and Potential Guest Lecturers
Carrie Armel, Economics & Psychology, S&H (Postdoctoral Fellow). Dr. Armel studies how affect
and motivation influence individual decision making using psychological, psychophysiological,
eye-tracking, and neuroscientific tools. She hopes to unite her Neuroeconomics work and
environmental interest to develop an effective methodology for changing environmentally relevant
behaviors.
Albert Bandura, Psychology, S&H (David Starr Jordan Professor of Social Science in
Psychology). (Advising participant). Dr. Bandura studies self and communal efficacy, social
learning theory, and moral disengagement. His work has been adapted through telenovelas to
promote virtually unprecedented levels social change in the areas of population control and
increased literacy.
Paul Ehrlich, Biological Sciences, S&H (Bing Professor of Population Studies). Dr. Ehrlich
studies conservation biology, ecology, evolution, and behavior of natural populations. Most well
known for his book The Population Bomb, his current focus is on reducing the severity of climate
change caused by over-consumption. He addresses this by studying how cultural evolution can
be facilitated through the diffusion of norms.
Michael Mastrandrea, CESP (Postdoctoral Fellow). Dr. Mastrandea develops integrated
assessment modeling of the climate and economy as a tool for climate policy analysis, with an
emphasis on quantifying risk and uncertainty. In collaboration with Dr. Schneider, he has recently
reviewed and is beginning to incorporate psychological perceptions of risk into his work.
Benoit Monin, Psychology, S&H (Assistant Professor). Dr. Monin studies perceptions of group
norms, the moralization of everyday life, and cognitive dissonance. He is especially interested in
identifying which traits make an effective spokesperson on moral issues, including environmental
issues, as well as what psychological processes play a role in the tragedy of the commons
problem.
Hayagreeva Rao, Organizational Behavior and Human Resources, GSB. (Atholl McBean
Professor). Dr. Rao applies quantitative sociological methods to study the creation and
transformation of social structures using real world data. He is particularly interested in
identifying what factors facilitate or hinder important social and environmental movements.
Tom Robinson, General Pediatrics, Medicine (Associate Professor). Dr. Robinson develops and
evaluates health promotion and disease prevention interventions for children and adolescents.
He believes that addressing climate change through behavior modification will also have
substantial beneficial impacts on health issues, such as obesity.
Kristine Samuelson, Communications, S&H (Professor). Dr. Samuelson has been an
independent film producer for twenty-two years and teaches documentary producing and
directing. She hopes to apply cinematic techniques that engage and motivate viewers concerning
climate change issues.
Steve Schneider, Biological Sciences, S&H (Professor). Dr. Schneider studies climate change,
such as climatic modeling of paleoclimates and human impacts on climate. In collaboration with
Dr. Mastrandrea, he has recently reviewed and is beginning to incorporate psychological
perceptions of risk into his work. He has had significant interactions with policy makers and
industry.
Baba Shiv, Marketing, GSB (Associate Professor). Dr. Shiv has published on decision making,
from consumer behavior to neuroscience. He believes the emerging field of Neuroeconomics will
provide unique approaches to studying and improving environmental decision making.
Jeff Shrager, Symbolic Systems, S&H (Consulting Professor). Dr. Shrager studies how novices
learn science and how to facilitate this learning. He also develops computer tools, such as
knowledge operating systems, to aid more complex scientific inquiries. Consistent with his
environmental interests, his most recent work aids biologists in clarifying the role of climate
change and other environmental stressors on cyanobacteria, a photosynthetic ocean organism
that produces half the oxygen and absorbs half the CO2 in the atmosphere.
We also plan on contacting Mark Granovetter (S&H, Joan Butler Ford Professor of Sociology)
who has developed some of the most influential theories in modern sociology. His quantitative
social network analysis has led to his theories on threshold models of fads, the problem of
embeddedness, and the strength of weak ties, which have been popularised by Malcolm
Gladwell's book The Tipping Point. Dr. Granovetter has a particular interest in environmental
issues and has used the electricity industry as a model for much of his work.