Book review The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology (S. Clayton, Ed., 2012)

Abstract

A brief introduction and commentary are provided to the recently published Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology. Having first set out the different sections of the book (theories, specific environments, environment and wellbeing, environmental conservation, conclusions), the review identifies the major approaches covered by the handbook, including transactionalism, psychological positivity and sustainability. The review also highlights the fact that, for the first time, the terms “Environmental Psychology” and “Conservation Psychology” are presented separately in a handbook of this kind; it also points out that certain novel issues are included. The review underlines that the organization of the book is dominated by the idea of an international community of psycho-environmental authors, which prevails over national or regional differences. Finally, it concludes that the handbook demonstrates how the advances achieved within Environmental Psychology, more than the stagnation of some of its areas, allow for a certain feeling of optimism.