As part of my homework for Amped Up, I read the article Ecopsychology: Where does it fit in psychology? by John Scull because I thought that it relates to the hike and search for moose that my group will be doing next month. This article describes what meant by the term ecopsychology and suggests that there is a spiritual or psychological crisis resulting from today's ecological crisis and separation from the natural world. It looks at the roots and effects of these problems with the moral goal of discovering ways that people can connect with the natural world in ways that are healthy for both the people and the planet.
I felt that this article has a strong connection to the adventure that we will be doing, as it describes the need people have to experience the natural world, and the need that people do this in a way that will not damage the environment; which is exactly what we are doing. By hiking through a section of the White Mountains, we will be accomplishing this very objective: to experience some of the most pristine environment around while doing so in a way that willl have minimal impact on that environment.
I also picked the article because I thought it would be interesting to explore the human need to connect with the natural world. Is this need psychological and stemming from a genetic trait of the mind? If so, what has caused this trait to be imbedded in us? How does it affect the functions of our mind? Has it played a part in our evolution contributing to survival of the fittest? Why is it still with us today? If it is not genetic, is it a result of modern society? Is there some sort of physical need to experience the natural world? Does it result from awe of the balance of the natural world? While there may be no definite answers to be found for these questions, I find them to be very interesting and certainly thought provoking. I will certainly keep them in mind throughout the adventure just to realize what I may.
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