NZ Climate Change Centre

Authored by Niki Harré, Deputy Head (Academic), Department of Psychology, University of Auckland

Psychology for a Better World is for those who believe it is worth trying to make a world in which both our species and the ecosystems we depend on can flourish. The book is based on the latest research in psychology and is jam packed with action strategies. It offers new ways to think about how people interact in social settings, why we are tempted to stick with what we know, and how the same characteristics that keep us hooked into unsustainable practices can be used to move us forward. The final chapter is a guide to help you analyse what you are doing to contribute towards a better world, and how you can be more effective while simultaneously increasing your personal wellbeing.

The book is free to download (or $15 NZ for a hard copy).

Click here to download Psychology for a Better World.

Extracts from Reviews:

As the title suggests, Psychology for a Better World aims to enhance our understanding of the psychology involved in inspiring those around us to live more sustainably... Niki blends her scientific understanding with wisdom and a clear set of personal ethics. The book clearly articulates its academic focus around change that acknowledges the need for collective effort, promotes making changes that are life enhancing, and that strengthens moral awareness rather than specific behaviour change... I thoroughly recommend this book to everyone engaged in the sustainability movement. Maureen Howard, Organic NZ Magazine

Congratulations on your fabulous new book which I read, thanks to you, as a free PDF. It is so wonderful to see members of the psychology community applying their knowledge and insights as you do in order to make a positive difference at this dangerous point human history. John F. Schumaker, Author of In Search of Happiness: Understanding an Endangered State of Mind

Psychology for a Better World: Strategies to inspire sustainability is a labour of passion that carries the reader all the way through to the end. It is largely targeting sustainability advocates and those who have strong inclinations towards a more sustainable world. Dr Niki Harré draws on different approaches to sustainability and shows which ones work best and then explains why. As you turn the pages, you will be exposed to a variety of issues and concepts from identity, intention, and morality to copying and the long lasting benefits of positive emotions. It is well researched, accessible, easy to read, and packed with case studies and practical examples. The most important message? If sustainability is to work, it needs to become a way of life. This book tells you how. If you believe in a better world or are flirting with sustainability, this may be the addition your library is waiting for. Tomas Pernecky, Ph.D, School of Hospitality and Tourism, AUT University, New Zealand

Harré manages to navigate the complexities of moral psychology with admirable ease and insightful purpose – balancing the objective of scientifically informed political advocacy with her own struggles to be the change she wants to see in the world. This book should inspire. Thomas Suddendorf, Professor, University of Queensland, Australia

Niki persuades us in a personable and convincing way to look more deeply at our motivations and strategies when advocating for improved social and environmental conditions. ..  This involves looking at our own motivations very carefully, which can be uncomfortable, but which Niki admirably does herself throughout the book. This book provides an urgently needed example of using sound evidence from the social sciences, particularly psychology, to engage people more positively in environmental sustainability. It also has a broader applicability, providing insights on effective advocacy for other areas of social change, for instance health promotion. Hugh Norriss, Mental Health Foundation, New Zealand       

Niki Harré is a highly regarded academic social psychologist and a sustainability advocate. Her book applies the latest psychological research to understand the dilemmas sustainability advocates and activists face and gives sound advice on how to grasp opportunities for change. Margaret Wetherell, Emeritus Professor in Social Psychology at the Open University, UK