Ecological Intelligence

Concepts of intelligence have evolved beyond the simple notion of IQ test-score but still focus on
our ability to adapt to and control an external, separate environment a view that strongly
influences how we deal with environmental issues. I feel it is time for a concept of ecological
intelligence, firmly embedding the human mind within its (evolutionary) environment. I'm not alone
in thinking that psychologists need to be more aware of how we interact with our world. At the
1992 UN Earth Summit, calls for a synthesis of psychology and the environmental movement led to
the new field of ecopsychology a term popularised by Theodore Roszak1 who wanted to "...bridge
our culture's long-standing, historical gulf between the psychological and the ecological, to see the
needs of the planet and the person as a continuum" that studies the psychological interdependence
and interconnectedness of all life.

Using this framework, I'm defining Ecological Intelligence as the capacity to reason in ecological
terms: (i) To perceive the interrelationships between living systems as a sustainably functioning
whole; (ii) To understand our place within that whole and show this in our thinking and behaviour.
What is an ecologically intelligence person like? Firstly, they might prefer organic forms and
patterns, whether this is in the way they decorate their houses, the products they use, or the places
they find beautiful. They show patterns of sustainability in all their relationships taking care of
themselves as well as others, being altruistic and having a sense of community. They may be
involved in activism e.g., anti-authoritarian groups. More generally, they experience feelings of
interconnection, either spiritually or just in everyday life. They have a curiosity about how things fit
together, whether as a scientist or simply wanting to know where their food comes from. These
things might come together in a specific activity, such as gardening, non-intensive farming, or
conservation work.

Secondly, they show an understanding of their place within the whole network of life that makes up
our world: an ecocentric viewpoint that understands humans are just one part of a sustainably
functioning system. They realise that resources are limited and that we run the risk of damaging that
system if we take too much. They have a long-term view of their actions, taking non-human species
into account. In psychology terms, they might show aspects of field dependence, syncretic thinking
and high absorption all indications that the boundaries of the self are not as rigid or fixed as many
believe, that the environment we live in affects us as we affect it.

Ecological Intelligence is based on the fact that we are biological beings who evolved in a natural
environment. This implies it has (at least in part) an innate, biological basis, and there is indeed
some evidence for this. Humans from different cultures show a preference for the savannah-like
landscapes humans evolved in. We quickly become less stressed and more attentive if we are shown
images of natural environments. We're effortlessly drawn in to natural scenes: irrespective of our
conscious feelings, something deep inside reacts in a positive way to nature. Hospital patients with
a more natural view recover faster and have a lower readmission rate than those with more artificial
outlooks2, and even just viewing natural scenes on a screen relaxes you3. Moreover, it's self-evident
that humans in the past must have had ecological intelligence for we as a species have survived over
evolutionary timescales. As Wilson4 says: How could our relation to nature, on which survival
depended minute by minute for millions of years, not in some way be reflected in the rules of
cognitive development that generate the human mind?
Physiologicalarousal(e.g.,measuredbyskinconductance)decreaseswhenviewingnatureversus
urbanscene(natureandurbanimagescourtesyofhttp://FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ ).
That's not to say that we can be complacent. Most people will be aware of signs of global climate
change5: temperatures rose 0.74C over the last 100 years, sea levels are annually rising 3.1mm, and
changes in rainfall patterns cause droughts in some areas and flooding in others. Biodiversity has
decreased6, with 12% of birds, 25% of mammals, and at least 32% of amphibians threatened with
extinction over the next century. 24% of the Earth's land-surface is now being cultivated, with
accompanying deforestation. Now more than ever, we need to understand what motivates people to
show ecologically intelligent (green) behaviour. We do know that such behaviour is linked to
feelings of nature-connection, and a nature deficit is linked to various stress disorders and
depression being ecologically intelligent is as much about your personal well-being as it is about
saving the rainforests!

With this in mind, research is underway at Bournemouth University to further develop the concept
of ecological intelligence and help us better understand how it can be evaluated and used in
everyday life. Measuring physiological arousal and levels of concentration in response to a variety
of natural and urban scenes tells us how people react to different settings, and what information we
obtain from such scenes to better understand our world. I'm also developing a psychological scale
that I hope will provide an easy way for people to assess their current level of ecological
intelligence, and help us to find out what aspects of modern-day life might get in the way of
listening to what that intelligence is telling us.

Fundamentally, this is as much a political issue as a psychological one because it reflects a reality:
this intelligence is needed if we are to have a future on this planet. It's about the survival of the
fittest: not the most competitive/numerous/explotative, but those that fit best into their environment,
knowing when they can alter their environment to their needs and when they must adjust their needs
to that environment.

[1] Rosak, T (1992). The Voice of the Earth. Phanes Press Inc: MI, USA.
[2] Ulrich, R.S., Simons, R.F., Losito B.D., Fiorito, E., Mile, M.A. and Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during
exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11, 201-230.
[3] Ulrich, R.S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, 224, 420-421.
[4] Arousing Biophilia: A Conversation with E.O. Wilson.
http://arts.envirolink.org/interviews_and_conversations/EOWilson.html. 28th March 2007.
[5] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Fourth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report
(Summary for Policymakers).
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr_spm.pdf. 21st Jan 2008.
[6] UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, Board Statement.
http://www.maweb.org/documents/document.429.aspx.pdf. 21st Jan 2008.