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Overcoming societal addictions: what can we learn from individual therapies?
Costanza, R. Atkins, Paul W. Bolton, Mitzi Cork, Steve Grigg, Nicola Kasser, T. Kubiszewski, Ida
Costanza, R.
Atkins, Paul W.
Bolton, Mitzi
Cork, Steve
Grigg, Nicola
Kasser, T.
Kubiszewski, Ida
Abstract
Societies, like individuals, can get trapped in patterns of behavior called social traps or “societal addictions” that provide short-termrewards but are detrimental and unsustainable in the long run. Examples include our societal addiction to inequitable over-consumption fueled by fossil energy and a “growth at all costs” economic model. This paper explores the potential to learn from successful therapies at the individual level. In particular,Motivational Interviewing (MI) is one of the most effective therapies. It is based on engaging addicts in a positive discussion of their goals, motives, and futures. We suggest that one analogy to MI at the societal level is a modified version of scenario planning (SP) that has been extended to engage the entire community (CSP) in thinking about goals and alternative futures via public opinion surveys and forums. Both MI and CSP are about exploring alternative futures in positive, non-confrontational ways and building commitment or consensus about preferred futures.We conclude that effective therapies for societal addictionsmay be possible, but, as we learn fromMI, they will require a rebalancing of effort away fromonly pointing out the dire consequences of current behavior (without denying those consequences) and toward building a shared vision of a positive future and the means to get there.
Keywords
Date
2017
Type
Journal article
Journal
Ecological Economics
Book
Volume
131
Issue
Page Range
543-550
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
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Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled