NAME SANAULLAH

ID ENV-20s-004
SUB PSYCHOLOGY
SUB,TO SIR KHALID HUSSAIN

SMI UNIVERSITY KARACHI

IMPACT OF PSYCHOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENTAL
BEHAVIOR IN PAKISTAN;

INTRODUCTION;

The scientific study of the mind and behaviour is known as psychology. Psychology is
the study of feelings and thoughts, both conscious and unconscious. It is a broad field
of research that bridges the gap between the natural and social sciences. Psychologists
are interested in learning more about the brain's emergent characteristics, which
connects them to neuroscience. As a social science, psychologists investigate the
behaviour of individuals and groups. The Greek letter (or psi) is frequently employed
in the area of psychology.

A psychologist is a specialist in the subject who works as a practitioner or researcher.

Some psychologists also work as social scientists, behavioural scientists, or cognitive
psychologists. Some psychologists look at the role of mental processes in human
behaviour. Others study the biological and physiological mechanisms that underpin
cognitive performance and behavior.

Perception, memory, focus, emotion, intellect, subjective experiences, motivation,

brain functioning, and personality are all studied by psychologists. Psychologists are
interested in interpersonal connections, psychological resilience, family resilience,
and other aspects of social psychology. They also take the unconscious mind into
consideration. Research psychologists employ practical strategies to identify causal
and correlational links between psychosocial variables. Symbolic representation is
used by some, but not all, behavioral psychologists.

Psychological knowledge is often applied to the diagnosis and treatment of mental

health issues, but it is also applied to the analysis and resolution of problems in a wide
range of other human endeavours. According to numerous authors, psychology's
ultimate goal is to help society. A lot of psychologists work in a therapeutic setting
like a clinic, counselling centre, or school. Other psychologists do research on a wide
range of mental and behavioural processes. The latter category of psychologists is
usually found in academic settings (e.g., universities, medical schools, hospitals).
A different sort of psychologist works with businesses and organisations. Others are
focusing on human development, ageing, sports, health, forensics, and the media,
among other topics.

ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR;

Environmental activities is a broad phrase that encompasses all forms of human or

group behaviours that have a direct or indirect influence on the environment.
Environmental activities has been used to refer to the influence of the biophysical
environment on human behaviour in a few settings, such as the impact of surrounding
architecture on human actions. Environmental behaviour, on the other hand, is
associated with the older uses of the word in social scientific areas.

Stern (2000) defines ecologically relevant behaviour as "behaviours that modify the
structure and dynamics of ecosystems or the biosphere, or alter the quantity of
materials or power from the environment."
Environmental behaviours aren't limited to one form of behaviour. Environmental
behaviours come in a variety of forms. Environmental behaviours can be categorised
into the following categories, according to Stern (2000).

Non-activist public-sphere behaviours, such as stating approval of environmental

standards, private-sphere environmental behaviours, such as recycling, water
conservation, reducing waste generation, and conserving energy, and green
consumerism, such as purchasing environmentally friendly products, are all examples
of environmental campaigns.

There was a rise in interest in human-caused environmental changes following the

release of Rachel Carson's widely regarded book Silent Spring (Carson, 1962). In her
book, Carson emphasises the negative impacts of pesticide usage on birds. The release
of Silent Spring contributed to the realisation that humanity must safeguard and
preserve the environment. The industrial and transportation sectors were recognised
as areas where adjustments were needed to decrease environmental deterioration
throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The significance of individual environmental
behaviours in everyday life has just lately been recognised.
Hardon (1968) explains how disregarding the importance of one individual in
environmental conservation might be inaccurate in his renowned article "tragedy of
the commons." To support his claim, Hardon uses a pasture as an example of a food
supply for herder's animals. If each herder owns 10 goats and the pasture can
accommodate all forty goats, the herders are living in harmony with their
surroundings.

It is now opportune for all herders to think about expanding their herds. If one of
these herders expands their herd from ten to fifteen goats, and others do the same, the
pasture will have to feed sixty goats, which is beyond its capability. Similarly, each
individual views the environmental repercussions of his activities to be trivial, but
when thousands of others adopt this mentality, the probability of environmental
catastrophe rises.

PSYCHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR IN PAKISTAN;

Anxiety and sadness are two of the most frequent mental health problems among the
elderly. Such mental health problems make it difficult to function and lead to a high
rate of impairment. Psychological difficulties are the fundamental cause of 40% of
mental health disorders, while 40% of psychological issues are the root cause of social
issues. The death of a spouse has a detrimental psychological influence on the
remaining spouse. The majority of family members disapprove of the elderly's second
marriage. While it is possible to find a life mate through marriage, which has a
beneficial influence on one's life and provides psychological fulfilment, it is also
possible to find a life partner through other means.

The elderly in today's Pakistani culture confront a variety of mental health difficulties
that must be addressed. According to surveys, approximately two-thirds of older
persons with mental diseases do not obtain the mental health care they require.

Depression in the elderly is a serious public health problem that is expanding fast in
both emerging and industrialised nations. Depression affects 22.9 percent of
Pakistan's senior population (Cassum, 2014). According to a cross-sectional research
done in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, depression is twice as common among jobless old
persons as it is among working senior people (Cassum, 2014). Similarly, the World
Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression will overtake heart disease as
the second biggest cause of disability by 2020. (APA, n.d).
The prevalence of depressive episodes among Pakistan's elderly is significantly higher
than previously estimated.Even in the United States, the rate of depression is lower
than in Pakistan, with 40% in the US and 66% in Pakistan (Cassum, 2014).
The problem is particularly prevalent in rural areas and among vulnerable
populations, such as the poor and members of certain ethnic and racial groupings
(APA,n.d). Depression is the most common mental health disorder.

Because of globalisation and modern technology, the values of family gatherings,

common hujra, and informal relationships with family members have declined. As a
result, the elderly population has been neglected by family members.
Because of their family members' ignorance, the elderly believe they are isolated from
society. Their sons and daughters make it difficult for them to meet, visit, and
communicate with their friends and relatives.

THANK YOU