Sociobiology and Biophilia in Ecopsychology
Everyone’s favorite ant-man, etymologist E. O. Wilson coined both of these words used by nature-lovers and evolutionary psychologists alike.
Sociobiology addresses social behaviors among and between interactive species (Wilson, 1997). Biophilia is the term coined by E.O. Wilson to describe our innate human attraction to nature, landscapes, and natural resources, including social resources, which human beings are attracted to for our mutual support.
The many benefits of healing with nature have been accepted for decades now, and studies continue all over the globe that confirm the popular consensus. Nature is good for human beings, and human beings can be good for nature if they merely accept, appreciate and protect her many gifts.
Climate change, reef bleaching, pollution and so many challenges — from toxic money in politics to toxic plastic in our oceans — can be met only when our technology aligns with our compassionate love for ourselves and our planet. Ecopsychology studies all of these things, looking for the signs of how we can heal ourselves by re-aligning our interests with our self- esteem, healthier self-medicating (our addictions) and using our knowledge to protect all quality of life.
Ecopsychology seeks to identify some shared, social benefits of mindful, sensory connections to…
