Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 4-8-2022
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Public Policy Leadership
First Advisor
David Rutherford
Second Advisor
Zachary Vereb
Third Advisor
Clifford Ochs
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
In part one, this thesis explains how a widespread environmental attitude, which is that it is permissible for humans to dominate the Earth, originated in early human history and remains prevalent today. This “domination attitude” is accompanied by American physical and social structures, otherwise referred to as provisioning systems, which largely constitute a current, prominent paradigm. This paradigm is leading to irreversible environmental degradation which adversely impacts all life on Earth. In part two, this thesis claims that this trajectory can be effectively diverted through a paradigm shift, one where the domination attitude is abandoned, humans pursue a more harmonious relationship with the environment, and current unsustainable provisioning systems are restructured. This thesis argues that one means to achieve a paradigm shift is by improving environmental education in the primary and secondary education system. This thesis discusses three specific areas of environmental education reform, including ecological literacy, critical thinking, and place-based and experiential learning.
Recommended Citation
Santacroce, Jenna Patricia, "The Contribution of Environmental Education to Dismantling an Increasingly Dysfunctional Environmental Attitude" (2022). Honors Theses. 2543.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2543
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