Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth, Healing the Mind

by Theodore Roszak (Editor), Mary E. Gomes (Editor), Allen D. Kanner (Editor)

This pathfinding collection has become a seminal text for the burgeoning ecopsychology movement, which has brought key new insights to environmentalism and revolutionized modern psychology. Its writers show how the health of the planet is inextricably linked to the psychological health of humanity, individually and collectively.
Contributors to this volume include the premier psychotherapists, thinkers, and eco-activists working in this field. James Hillman, the world-renowned Jungian analyst, identifies as the “one core issue for all psychology” the nature and limits of human identity, and relates this to the condition of the planet. Earth Island Institute head Carl Anthony argues for “a genuinely multicultural self and a global civil society without racism” as fundamental to human and earthly well-being. And Buddhist writer and therapist Joanna Macy speaks of the need to open up our feelings for our threatened planet as an antidote to environmental despair.
“Is it possible,” asks co-editor Theodore Roszak, “that the planetary and the personal are pointing the way forward to some new basis for a sustainable economic and emotional life?” Ecopsychology in practice has begun to affirm this, aided by these definitive writings.

Genres: Psychology, Nature, Ecology, Nonfiction, Environment, Philosophy, Science

366 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Theodore Roszak was Professor Emeritus of history at California State University, East Bay. He is best known for his 1969 text, The Making of a Counter Culture.

Roszak first came to public prominence in 1969, with the publication of his The Making of a Counter Culture[5] which chronicled and gave explanation to the European and North American counterculture of the 1960s. He is generally credited with the first use of the term "counterculture".

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every era throughout history goes through a kind of insanity. Perhaps the psychopathology of modernity is the disconnect between the psyche of nature and the human psyche. We are living in an era where the material aspects of nature are emphasized and exploited for short term economic gain. This is most likely due to our modern disenchanted world view. Technology is the crown of the Enlightenment, but when man removes himself from the Tao, he steps into a void, where human nature begins to resemble something artificial. Cultural and individual wholeness can only take place when we recognize that we are an integral part of the environment. This book provides dozens of perspectives on how this can be accomplished.

[Mads P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first got this book in college when I was writing my honors thesis for my environmental studies certificate and English degree. I believe it's out of print now. I decided to re-read it because I'm interested in studying this more in depth now.

The book is composed of many essays that deal with the psychological component of the environmental movement, including how our physical distance from the natural world and knowledge of its destruction affects our psyche.

Not the most entertaining read, as the essays are very scholarly. But it is filled with ideas and interesting concepts. There was only one essay I strongly disagreed with: it was all about technology having a negative impact on the environment. This essay showed the age of the book. It was written about ten years ago, I believe.

[Kendylus Roboticus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives insight into the psychological relationship between humans and the earth. It's essential for one to understand their relationship with the world and animals around them and to recognize the connections between all them. One cannot live without the other.

[Daniel Core · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ecopsychology is the understanding that we are not separate from nature but actively a part of its processes and history. The disconnection between modern society and our past has created a psychological rift that can be seen in our social isolation, violence, deteriorating mental health, pollution, and disconnect from our traditional way of living. A harmonious approach to living within nature has become taboo and “primitive” in modern thought and practice.

How can we heal a sick society when we allow our environment to continue to degrade and be exploited?

This book dives into a multidimensional approach to understanding how far we have traveled from human’s traditional perspective of our world. Industrial society and its cost to our health should be questioned at every Avenue. This book was published the year I was born and it crushes me to learn such insightful perspectives are not mainstream in North America. Insightful perspectives included ideas on ecofeminism, sustainability, child psychology, social health, fulfillment, trauma, grief, modern psychology, alternative counseling, wilderness exploration, habitat restoration, environmental justice, social justice, racism, ecology, motivation, magic, Native American religions, and politics.

Anyone who calls themselves an environmentalist should read this book. I will be citing these sources forever.

[Mick D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with much wisdom

[Terra Leigh Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a fantastic introduction to the field of Ecopsychology. I will say that it feels a bit dated at this point. I'm glad they introduced issues around race and the authors are certainly aware that the developing world can't simply decide to stop developing, because we already profited off their exploitation for literally hundreds of years. However, the overall tone of the book is definitely a bit of what I'd call a Romantic White ecology: kind of a "why'd they cut down the trees here, I liked the trees" attitude. When, of course, they are ALL very economically comfortable, upper-class bourgeois folks who like using all of the infrastructure that was initially made from the forced labor of African and Chinese folks.

Again, overall, you can't do better than this book as an introduction to the field. But it did make me glad that the field has progressed, and there's more awareness of the privilege a lot of eco psychologists are coming from.

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent compilation of forward thinking observations.
Jungian Psychology and the World Unconscious -Stephen Aizenstat-
"The time has come to move beyond the wildly held belief that psychological health is solely a function of individual wholeness and nurturing human relationships. Although this view has obvious therapeutic usefulness, it exists within a framework that perpetuates the separation of person from world and that denies the essential importance of an individuals surroundings."
The Wilderness Effect And Ecopsychology -Robert Greenway-
"The experience of separation is an essential context for domination; domination is the root of exploitation. And thus we destroy our habitat, the very basis of our survival as a species."

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is what my heart's been trying to tell me since I was born.

[James]

This pathfinding collection has become a seminal text for the burgeoning ecopsychology movement, which has brought key new insights to environmentalism and revolutionized modern psychology. Its writers show how the health of the planet is inextricably linked to the psychological health of humanity, individually and collectively. Contributors to this volume include the premier psychotherapists, thinkers, and eco-activists working in this field. James Hillman, the world-renowned Jungian analyst, identifies as the “one core issue for all psychology” the nature and limits of human identity, and relates this to the condition of the planet. Earth Island Institute head Carl Anthony argues for “a genuinely multicultural self and a global civil society without racism” as fundamental to human and earthly well-being. And Buddhist writer and therapist Joanna Macy speaks of the need to open up our feelings for our threatened planet as an antidote to environmental despair. “Is it possible,” asks co-editor Theodore Roszak, “that the planetary and the personal are pointing the way forward to some new basis for a sustainable economic and emotional life?” Ecopsychology in practice has begun to affirm this, aided by these definitive writings.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An expansive anthology on ecopsychology (or deep ecology) that touches in theory, practice, and politics. My favorite pieces were the ecopsychology of child development by Barrows, the wilderness effect and ecopsychology by greenway, the skill of ecological perception by Sewall, and working through environmental despair by Macy. I also really enjoyed the works by Durning, Kanner and Gomes, Harper, Anthony, and Roszak, which centered on themes such as eco feminism, consumerism, and cultural diversity. Great collection.

[Ashton E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn’t say this would be the most helpful book for me in learning more about ecotherapy but definitely gives a foundation for ecopsychological ideas - doesn’t seem as useful for the research I’m doing but useful from an anthropological lens and gives a bunch of different perspectives which is interesting.

[Julia H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ecopsychology, in essence, is similar to how it sounds: as opposed to conventional psychology (which focuses on studying the bond between the mind and behavior), ecopsychology focuses on studying the bond between humans and the planet. It shows how there is more ecology in psychology than we think, and more psychology in ecology than we think.

I read this book for my Ecopsychology class, and it is a book written in the 1990s that gives a great introduction to the field. As other reviews allude to, it does not provide the most interesting narrative, but it is still a very interesting read that deeply explores the interdependence between humans and the Earth - and provides a basis for how we need to address the psychological implications of climate change (how did we get here / how can we get out of this mess).

[Alannah Irwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primary text for my undergraduate thesis in Environmental Studies!

[Lennie Noiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I would like to see new version updated to address current events, written 27 years ago so many of the essays in this book speak directly to today.

[N.D. Wisard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is what my heart's been trying to tell me since I was born.

[Eliza Spata-Burk · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is a catalog of various attempts or approaches to understanding the psychology of the current human - eco relationship - including the feminist theory that taught masculinity and domination remove "man" from a healthy relationship with nature or that we must understand that the our dying earth must be cared and mourned for - a clear reminder that we cannot just recycle and buy hybrids but that we must remove ourselves from our cosumption obsession and sustainably grow and produce with and within the world and its limits

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ben took a class at MIAD that encompassed the ideas in this book. we've had this book since he took that class...i loved it then, and i have sort of "re" discovered lately. i think this book is what drove ben and i to apprentice on an organic farm after graduation of college.....feeling somewhat detatched from the cycles of nature.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ecopsychology, environmental psychology, environmental sociology, conservation psychology - Jesus. It's all documentation of this rare drama onfolding around us now. namely, how we live and how we die.

it's just happening faster than we ever thought.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every essay had a gem buried in it. And, where are the Ecopsychology training programs in this country??? Jeanette Armostrong (Okanagan elder) wrote the last essay and every word spoke to my heart -- what an amazing woman!

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Four or five of the essays were fascinating but overall I can't really recommend this book. It doesn't even answer the basic question, What is ecopsychology? Apparently there is no single answer to that seemingly simple question.

[P. Es · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interview on the book here;
http://www.williamjames.com/transcrip...

[Suzanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

My textbook from the Ecopsychology course at Naropa.

[Eliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not an easy read by any means, but a valuable book. I think it's important that we include our connection with nature as a vital part of mental health. So easy to forget in the city...

[Gemini · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am forcing myself to finish this book. i don't like it at all, but figured it would be a good read, yeah not so much.

[Dina Mahmoud · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Ecopsychological Bible:)

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a class in undergrad. I was completely stunned with my emotional reaction to the information in this book. It is a must-read for people that care about the environment.

[Daniel Mello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight up: waste no time, as every page must be understood if we are to change our culture for the better! LOVED the Eco-centric insight of a variety of academics. Read it!

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another book that helps me heal and saves my life, over and over

[Lenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

environmentalist, planner, person...you've gotta read this.

[Salvatore Familia]

This pathfinding collection has become a seminal text for the burgeoning ecopsychology movement, which has brought key new insights to environmentalism and revolutionized modern psychology. Its writers show how the health of the planet is inextricably linked to the psychological health of humanity, individually and collectively.
Contributors to this volume include the premier psychotherapists, thinkers, and eco-activists working in this field. James Hillman, the world-renowned Jungian analyst, identifies as the “one core issue for all psychology” the nature and limits of human identity, and relates this to the condition of the planet. Earth Island Institute head Carl Anthony argues for “a genuinely multicultural self and a global civil society without racism” as fundamental to human and earthly well-being. And Buddhist writer and therapist Joanna Macy speaks of the need to open up our feelings for our threatened planet as an antidote to environmental despair.
“Is it possible,” asks co-editor Theodore Roszak, “that the planetary and the personal are pointing the way forward to some new basis for a sustainable economic and emotional life?” Ecopsychology in practice has begun to affirm this, aided by these definitive writings.