The Surprising Enemy of Sustainability? Too Much Analytic Thinking

Introducing Behavioral Sustainability as an Integrative Solution

“The world we have created is a product of our thinking. If we want to change the world, we have to change our thinking.” — Albert Einstein

o Sustainability is the ultimate human problem, which means we cannot solve it without understanding human behavior

o The West is still heavily influenced by ancient Greek culture, which emphasized individualism, an independent view of the self, and analytic thinking

o A view of the self as independent combined with extreme individualistic tendencies is not conducive to solving sustainability issues because it leads to myopic and moralistic thoughts and behaviors

o Incorporating behavioral sustainability — a more integrative framework — is the solution to a sustainable future

Table of Contents

• Recognizing Sustainability as a Human Problem
• The Intimate Relationship Between Culture and Psychology
• Ancient Greek Culture and its Lingering Effects on the West