Not evolved to save the planet, yet capable to promote pro-environmental action leveraging human nature
Anthropogenic environmental issues, from global warming to pollution, biodiversity loss, and natural resources depletion, require immediate action. Yet, inaction remains pervasive, and pro-environmental psychological interventions have, at best, yielded modest, short-lived effects. In this article,...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1571765/full |
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| author | Marco Antonio Correa Varella Marco Antonio Correa Varella Marco Antonio Correa Varella Felipe Carvalho Novaes Felipe Carvalho Novaes Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva Renato de Mei Romero Paulo Henrique Santos Gonçalves Paulo Henrique Santos Gonçalves Joelson Moreno Brito de Moura Joelson Moreno Brito de Moura Risoneide Henriques da Silva Risoneide Henriques da Silva Matheus Adriano Ferreira Coelho Matheus Adriano Ferreira Coelho João Vitor Rodrigues Costa Mauro Dias Silva Júnior Mauro Dias Silva Júnior Markus J. Rantala Katariina Elsa Maria Vuorinen |
| author_facet | Marco Antonio Correa Varella Marco Antonio Correa Varella Marco Antonio Correa Varella Felipe Carvalho Novaes Felipe Carvalho Novaes Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva Renato de Mei Romero Paulo Henrique Santos Gonçalves Paulo Henrique Santos Gonçalves Joelson Moreno Brito de Moura Joelson Moreno Brito de Moura Risoneide Henriques da Silva Risoneide Henriques da Silva Matheus Adriano Ferreira Coelho Matheus Adriano Ferreira Coelho João Vitor Rodrigues Costa Mauro Dias Silva Júnior Mauro Dias Silva Júnior Markus J. Rantala Katariina Elsa Maria Vuorinen |
| author_sort | Marco Antonio Correa Varella |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anthropogenic environmental issues, from global warming to pollution, biodiversity loss, and natural resources depletion, require immediate action. Yet, inaction remains pervasive, and pro-environmental psychological interventions have, at best, yielded modest, short-lived effects. In this article, we argue that the development of more effective interventions could be aided by more nuanced discussion around two pervasive misguided assumptions: That human nature is inherently environmentally friendly, thus naturally inclined toward sustainability unless distorted by modern socioeconomic systems; on the other hand, that human nature is inherently destructive, posing a fundamental barrier to environmental action. We critically examine these presuppositions, their foundations, as well as their pro- and counterarguments, and argue that both are oversimplifications which overlook the current understanding on biological, evolutionary and behavioral sciences, disregarding its contextual nature. Many native populations have overexploited their resources, yet modern evolutionary psychology does not support the notion that human nature would be inherently unfit for environmental action. Evolved behavioral tendencies interact with socioeconomic environments which can lead to the relational properties of environmental destruction as well as to protection. Their high behavioral variability, interactivity, calibration, flexibility, plasticity, and co-optability enable a wide range of sustainable actions. Rather than seeing biological and evolutionary aspects as inherently pessimistic or optimistic per se, we call for more research which appropriately integrates behavioral biology and evolutionary psychology so that we can avoid the above-described erroneous presuppositions as well as related Moralistic and Naturalistic Fallacies. We also argue toward a more nuanced understanding of human nature, and thus design more effective interventions which fit our biological predispositions. Furthermore, promoting education, ethical control and responsible journalism may help to avoid fostering these misguided assumptions about human nature. We conclude that evolved, universal psychological tendencies neither justify inaction nor make sustainability unattainable. Instead, correctly understanding human nature serves as a crucial foundation for guiding us toward designing effective and lasting sustainable practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-06754db790bd4834a45d474fb93a8e3e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-06754db790bd4834a45d474fb93a8e3e2025-08-20T03:50:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-07-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15717651571765Not evolved to save the planet, yet capable to promote pro-environmental action leveraging human natureMarco Antonio Correa Varella0Marco Antonio Correa Varella1Marco Antonio Correa Varella2Felipe Carvalho Novaes3Felipe Carvalho Novaes4Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva5Renato de Mei Romero6Paulo Henrique Santos Gonçalves7Paulo Henrique Santos Gonçalves8Joelson Moreno Brito de Moura9Joelson Moreno Brito de Moura10Risoneide Henriques da Silva11Risoneide Henriques da Silva12Matheus Adriano Ferreira Coelho13Matheus Adriano Ferreira Coelho14João Vitor Rodrigues Costa15Mauro Dias Silva Júnior16Mauro Dias Silva Júnior17Markus J. Rantala18Katariina Elsa Maria Vuorinen19Department of Botany, Center for Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, BrazilDepartment of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilResiclima Network, International Collaboration for the Multidimensional and Interdisciplinary Study of Global Climate Change, Recife, BrazilResiclima Network, International Collaboration for the Multidimensional and Interdisciplinary Study of Global Climate Change, Recife, BrazilPontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, BrazilLaboratory of Spatial Analysis, Environmental Conservation, and Sustainability, Center for Environmental Studies and Research, State University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilFederal Institute of Education Science and Technology of Alagoas (IFAL), Campus Marechal Deodoro, Alagoas, BrazilDepartment of Botany, Center for Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, BrazilResiclima Network, International Collaboration for the Multidimensional and Interdisciplinary Study of Global Climate Change, Recife, BrazilResiclima Network, International Collaboration for the Multidimensional and Interdisciplinary Study of Global Climate Change, Recife, BrazilInstituto de Estudos do Xingu (IEX), Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, São Félix do Xingu, BrazilDepartment of Botany, Center for Biosciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, BrazilResiclima Network, International Collaboration for the Multidimensional and Interdisciplinary Study of Global Climate Change, Recife, BrazilDepartment of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilEvolution, Morality, and Politics Research Group, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilDepartment of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilResiclima Network, International Collaboration for the Multidimensional and Interdisciplinary Study of Global Climate Change, Recife, BrazilBehavioral Sciences Program, Department of Basic Psychological Processes, Institute of Psychology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil0Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland1Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Lillehammer, NorwayAnthropogenic environmental issues, from global warming to pollution, biodiversity loss, and natural resources depletion, require immediate action. Yet, inaction remains pervasive, and pro-environmental psychological interventions have, at best, yielded modest, short-lived effects. In this article, we argue that the development of more effective interventions could be aided by more nuanced discussion around two pervasive misguided assumptions: That human nature is inherently environmentally friendly, thus naturally inclined toward sustainability unless distorted by modern socioeconomic systems; on the other hand, that human nature is inherently destructive, posing a fundamental barrier to environmental action. We critically examine these presuppositions, their foundations, as well as their pro- and counterarguments, and argue that both are oversimplifications which overlook the current understanding on biological, evolutionary and behavioral sciences, disregarding its contextual nature. Many native populations have overexploited their resources, yet modern evolutionary psychology does not support the notion that human nature would be inherently unfit for environmental action. Evolved behavioral tendencies interact with socioeconomic environments which can lead to the relational properties of environmental destruction as well as to protection. Their high behavioral variability, interactivity, calibration, flexibility, plasticity, and co-optability enable a wide range of sustainable actions. Rather than seeing biological and evolutionary aspects as inherently pessimistic or optimistic per se, we call for more research which appropriately integrates behavioral biology and evolutionary psychology so that we can avoid the above-described erroneous presuppositions as well as related Moralistic and Naturalistic Fallacies. We also argue toward a more nuanced understanding of human nature, and thus design more effective interventions which fit our biological predispositions. Furthermore, promoting education, ethical control and responsible journalism may help to avoid fostering these misguided assumptions about human nature. We conclude that evolved, universal psychological tendencies neither justify inaction nor make sustainability unattainable. Instead, correctly understanding human nature serves as a crucial foundation for guiding us toward designing effective and lasting sustainable practices.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1571765/fullanthropogenic environmental problemsclimate changeevolutionary psychologypro-environmental behaviorenvironmental protectionbehavioral science |
| spellingShingle | Marco Antonio Correa Varella Marco Antonio Correa Varella Marco Antonio Correa Varella Felipe Carvalho Novaes Felipe Carvalho Novaes Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva Renato de Mei Romero Paulo Henrique Santos Gonçalves Paulo Henrique Santos Gonçalves Joelson Moreno Brito de Moura Joelson Moreno Brito de Moura Risoneide Henriques da Silva Risoneide Henriques da Silva Matheus Adriano Ferreira Coelho Matheus Adriano Ferreira Coelho João Vitor Rodrigues Costa Mauro Dias Silva Júnior Mauro Dias Silva Júnior Markus J. Rantala Katariina Elsa Maria Vuorinen Not evolved to save the planet, yet capable to promote pro-environmental action leveraging human nature Frontiers in Psychology anthropogenic environmental problems climate change evolutionary psychology pro-environmental behavior environmental protection behavioral science |
| title | Not evolved to save the planet, yet capable to promote pro-environmental action leveraging human nature |
| title_full | Not evolved to save the planet, yet capable to promote pro-environmental action leveraging human nature |
| title_fullStr | Not evolved to save the planet, yet capable to promote pro-environmental action leveraging human nature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Not evolved to save the planet, yet capable to promote pro-environmental action leveraging human nature |
| title_short | Not evolved to save the planet, yet capable to promote pro-environmental action leveraging human nature |
| title_sort | not evolved to save the planet yet capable to promote pro environmental action leveraging human nature |
| topic | anthropogenic environmental problems climate change evolutionary psychology pro-environmental behavior environmental protection behavioral science |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1571765/full |
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