Amara T. Brook

Santa Clara University assistant professor of psychology Amara Brook believes a better understanding of global warming and a knowledge of the impact of specific actions is helpful.

And while Americans love their sense of independence — "we idolize the Marlboro man, the independent cowboy thing" — the positive influence of social pressure can't be discounted, she said, citing the "green chic" of the Toyota Prius hybrid as an example.

But a key factor, according to a paper written by Brook and Jennifer Crocker of the University of Michigan — who presented their findings at the American Psychological Association's annual meeting in Boston this month— is whether you're a committed environmentalist or not.
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Brook and Crocker found that when those who already are concerned about the environment got a low rating on the Ecological Footprint calculator — which asks them about what they eat, what they drive and how they live — they tended to resolve to do better and to take more green actions.
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"For them, hearing negative stuff was motivational," Brook said.She knows this because they asked participants to do something green, in this case write a letter.

The second survey, done by Amara Brook of Santa Clara University for a paper presented at an American Psychological Association, found…

the apparent disparity between attitude and action.While a majority of Americans consider themselves environmentalists, just 13 percent have contributed money to green causes and only 14 percent use alternative transportation, according to past studies.

That suggests, she writes, "that only a small minority of those who want a healthier environment and consider themselves environmentalists engage in environmentally sustainable behavior."Knowing how to increase those actions is "essential" for future improvement, she said.

Amara T. Brook
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Amara T. Brook

Assistant Professor Department of Psychology Santa Clara University
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Brook, A.T. (1997). A good example for aquifer management in the 21st century? In L. Triplett, (Ed.), The Great Plains Symposium 1997: The Ogallala Aquifer, "Managing for Drought and Climate Change. (pp.86-98). Lincoln, NE: The Great Plains Foundation.

Brook, A.T. (2001). What is "Conservation Psychology? Population & Environmental Psychology Bulletin, 27(2), 1-2.

Brook, A.T. (2003). Psychology of sustainable development (book review). Human Ecology Review, 10(2).

Brook, A.T., Zint, M. & DeYoung, R. (2003). Landowners' responses to an Endangered Species Act listing and implications for encouraging conservation. Conservation Biology, 17(6), 1638-1649.

Opotow, S. & Brook, A.T. (2003). Identity and exclusion in rangeland conflict. In S. Clayton & S. Opotow (Eds.), Identity and the Natural Environment. (pp. 249-272). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Clayton, S. & Brook, A. (2005). Can psychology help save the world? A model for conservation psychology. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 5(1), 1-15.

Saunders, C.D., Brook, A.T., & Myers, O.E. (2006).

Clayton, S. & Brook, A. (2005).
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Amara Brook

Assistant Professor

Santa Clara University

Amara Brook [atbrook@scu.edu]

Assistant Professor

Santa Clara University