Ecomindsponge: A novel perspective on human psychology and behaviors in the ecosystem

Abstract

Modern society is facing major environmental problems, but there are many difficulties in studying deeper the human-nature relationship from an integral psychosocial perspective. We propose the ecomindsponge theory, based on the mindsponge mechanism of information processing, to provide a more dynamic framework to be used flexibly and practically in environmental social sciences. The core mechanism of ecomindsponge is the subjective sphere of influence, which is the limited mental representation of information received from and processed based on the objective sphere of influence – actual interactions in reality. The subjective sphere is the sum of two sub-spheres: influencing (proactive) and being influenced (reactive). Maladaptation in thinking and behavior of the mind as an information collection-cum-processor results from the deviation of the subjective sphere from reality, which include two main types: “stupidity” and “delusion”. Using Bayesian Mindsponge Framework (BMF) analytics on a dataset of 535 urban residents, we provide statistical evidence about the consistent patterns of the subjective spheres. Ecomindsponge can be a useful tool for building an eco-surplus culture – a more pro-environmental infosphere of society.

Essential materials for Bayesian Mindsponge Framework analytics

“…• Enterprise's strategies to improve financial capital under climate change scenario -evidence of the leading country [22] • Ecomindsponge: A novel perspective on human psychology and behaviors in the ecosystem [23] • The crucial roles of biodiversity loss belief and perception in urban residents' consumption attitude and behavior towards animal-based products [24]…”

Wood, Hassall and colleagues (2018): Relationship among space quality, biodiversity and psychological restoration through mindsponge theory perspective

“…According to the ecomindsponge information-processing approach, people make sense of nature through their subjective perceptions and process feedback from interactions with the environment [4]. This information-processing system naturally works toward the prolonge of people's existence, including survival, growth, and reproduction.…”

Lies, violence, radicalization, and the subjective sphere of influence

“…Using the subjective spheres of influence and being influenced [3] for reasoning, we further explore the information-processing properties of lies and violence deeper. Based on the categorization of sphere deviation, we argue that lies mainly involve injecting curated information into the target's mind to manipulate its filtering system and interpretation directions, while violence mainly involves forcefully blocking access to unwanted information and preventing corresponding behaviors.…”