Even if you’ve never been to Seattle, you still might have heard about the city’s reputation for outdoor life. Attending college there, I found it impossible to ignore the stark contrast of cityscapes, ambient traffic, and daily busywork with a backdrop of mountain ranges, lakes, and forests. It felt like inhabiting two different worlds.
In the city, I was narrowly focused and goal-oriented—everything appeared to be so important. In nature, the pace slowed down, I felt small (in a good way), while my problems seemed trivial, and I felt a broader sense of connection.
As a researcher in an ecopsychology lab, I learned that these experiences were also shared by many others. So what is it about natural and urban settings that change our perspectives so deeply? And could these changes influence our beliefs and behaviors around sustainability?
Differing World Views
Since at least the 1980s, sociologists have been interested in how people relate to their surroundings(1). Out of this research came an understanding of two overarching worldviews about nature. The first, called the human exceptionalism paradigm (HEP), is generally characterized by the beliefs that we dominate over nature and are separate from it, we are masters of our own destiny and will inevitably solve all problems, and that the world is an infinite stock of resources for our use.
In contrast, the new ecological paradigm (NEP) emphasizes the limitations of technological innovation and natural resources, while asserting that all living things, including humans, are interconnected.
How They Affect Us
Worldviews like these have real consequences. It might come as no surprise that endorsement of the new ecological paradigm has been associated with pro-environmental behavior(2), while the human exceptionalism paradigm is negatively related and may even encourage climate-change denial(3). By seeing humanity as dominant and separate from nature, one might believe that human activity is unconnected to the climate, or that we have the right to change the natural environment to accommodate our needs. While sociologists have emphasized the role of culture in shaping these worldviews, it is likely that experience also plays a role.
Experiences of Wonderment
Life in Seattle showed me just how different surroundings can impact my experience of the world. So what bearing does direct perception have on environmental beliefs and behaviors?
Think back on an impactful nature experience of your own. Maybe you were captivated by a vast mountain range during a hike. Or you were stargazing and struck by the all-encompassing night sky. Wonder, awe, and connection seem to be integral parts of our interactions with nature, and such experiences can have a strong influence on how we see the world.
For example, feelings of awe can quiet parts of the brain related to self-representation, possibly explaining why we perceive ourselves as subjectively small in nature(4). In the same vein, a 2018 study(5) showed how awe can reduce people’s desire to dominate over nature, leading to pro-environmental beliefs and behaviors. Sound familiar? You might recall that dominance over nature is one of the core tenets of the human exceptionalism worldview. This demonstrates that direct perception of ourselves in comparison to natural and urban environments has a powerful influence on our environmental beliefs and behaviors.
Urban vs. Natural Environments
If nature experiences can encourage feelings of connectedness and reciprocity with the environment, by contrast urban life might subtly reinforce a sense of separation from and dominance over the environment. By deliberately integrating more experiences of nature into our lives, we can not only cultivate a fulfilling relationship with the world, but also change our behavior in positive ways.
Instead of viewing sustainability as a set of obligations or principles to follow, it could become a natural expression of our sense of connection and reverence for life.
Ultimately, this shift is not merely an individual transformation, but a collective opportunity to redefine our relationship with the natural world, moving from a paradigm of dominance and separation to one of stewardship and respect.
P.S. I’m also writing now at substack.com/@drewschoenfeld!
- Catton, W.R. & Dunlap R.E. (1980). A New Ecological Paradigm for post-exuberant sociology
- Derdowski, L.A., et al. (2020). The New Ecological Paradigm
- Kim, J, et al. (2023). Conceptualizing Human–Nature Relationships
- Elk, M., et al. (2019). The neural correlates of the awe experience
- Zhao, H., et al. (2018). Relation Between Awe and Environmentalism