Saving Mr. Nature: Anthropomorphism enhances connectedness to and protectiveness toward nature

Tam, Kim‐Pong; Lee, Sau Lai; Chao, Melody Man Chi

doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2013.02.001

Cited by 263 publications

(252 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Another approach is to look beyond our rationalist scientific training and promote empathy for bats by levering the universal human tendency to anthropomorphize (project human characteristics onto non-human animals). Anthropomorphism may have been with us since Paleolithic times (Mithen and Boyer 1996), and its use as tool for conservation is receiving growing attention (Tam et al 2013;Chan 2012;RootBernstein et al 2013). Anthropomorphic bats already prevail in the children's bat literature, led by Jane Cannon's wonderful Stellaluna, although bats in some books lack names and in others look like rodents!…”

Section: Prior Attitudes and Values Of Wildlife And Naturementioning

confidence: 99%

Cute, Creepy, or Crispy—How Values, Attitudes, and Norms Shape Human Behavior Toward Bats

Kingston

2015

Bats in the Anthropocene: Conservation of Bats in a Changing World

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Bat populations around the world are declining as a consequence of human activities. Bat conservation thus hinges on changing human behavior, but to do so, we must understand the origins and drivers of the behavior. As natural scientists, most bat biologists lack the knowledge and training to implement rigorous studies of the human dimensions of bat conservation, yet such studies are needed to guide successful intervention. As we travel through the Anthropocene, it is critical that bat conservation biologists adopt an interdisciplinary approach and work with researchers from the social sciences who hold these skills and knowledge. To facilitate conversation and collaboration with conservation social scientists, I review the key theoretical and empirical perspectives on human behavior toward wildlife and report on studies of bats in these contexts wherever possible.

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Section: Prior Attitudes and Values Of Wildlife And Naturementioning

confidence: 99%

Cute, Creepy, or Crispy—How Values, Attitudes, and Norms Shape Human Behavior Toward Bats

Kingston

2015

Bats in the Anthropocene: Conservation of Bats in a Changing World

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“…Some research has examined the efficacy of specific interventions designed to improve nature connectedness (Chambliss, 2013;Ernst & Theimer, 2011;Gilbertson, 2013;Tam et al, 2013), but most studies were associated with interventions or experiences in counselling or educational settings. Other research has focused on probing the relationships between nature connectedness and altruism (Chochola, 2009), stewardship activities (Ford, 2008), meaning in life (Creedon, 2012), happiness (Cervinka et al, 2012), mental health (Tauber, 2012), environmental behaviour (Chochola, 2009;Hoot & Friedman, 2011) and other aspects, but there are relatively few examinations of nature connectedness in parks and protected areas.…”

Section: Intentional Interactions With Nature Are the Key To Connectementioning

confidence: 99%

Building a culture of conservation: Research findings and research priorities on connecting people to nature in parks

Wright¹,

Mathews²

2015

PARKS

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“…Recently, the role of anthropomorphism as a useful tool for conservation outreach and environmental education has been gaining attention (Chan 2012;Tam et al 2013). However, we believe that most conservationists still underestimate the breadth of applicability of anthropomorphism to conservation, and are likely to be unaware of research from the social sciences making clear anthropomorphism's potential as a powerful but double-edged sword.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropomorphized species as tools for conservation: utility beyond prosocial, intelligent and suffering species

et al. 2013

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Anthropomorphism has recently emerged in the literature as a useful tool for conservation. Within the current conservation literature, description of the development of anthropomorphisms and the range of species that can be anthropomorphized overlooks established and emerging evidence from anthropological and other social science studies of human-animal relationships. This research shows that people anthropomorphize a very broad range of species, including plants. We discuss how people construct anthropomorphic meanings around species, through a diversity of mechanisms and with both positive and negative effects. We then review the many gradations and forms of anthropomorphism, and some related conceptions in non-Western cultures, which have different types of utility for conservation. Finally we discuss cases where animals are anthropomorphized but with negative outcomes for human-animal interactions and conservation. Limiting the use of anthropomorphism in conservation to prosocial, intelligent, suffering animals risks suggesting that other species are not worthy of conservation because they are not like humans in the ''right'' ways. It would also mean overlooking the application of a powerful tool to the promotion of low-profile species with high biological conservation value. We emphasize that negative outcomes and conflicts with ecosystem-level conservation actions are also possible and need to be carefully managed. Use of anthropomorphism in 123Biodivers Conserv (2013( ) 22:1577( -1589( DOI 10.1007 conservation must take into account how people engage with species and attribute value to their characteristics.

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Saving Mr. Nature: Anthropomorphism enhances connectedness to and protectiveness toward nature

Cited by 263 publications

References 37 publications

Cute, Creepy, or Crispy—How Values, Attitudes, and Norms Shape Human Behavior Toward Bats

Cute, Creepy, or Crispy—How Values, Attitudes, and Norms Shape Human Behavior Toward Bats

Building a culture of conservation: Research findings and research priorities on connecting people to nature in parks

Anthropomorphized species as tools for conservation: utility beyond prosocial, intelligent and suffering species

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