Ecopsychology believes that humans must be in harmony with the Earth to enjoy a healthy mind, peace, and happiness, and that mental disorders and other problems are the result of man’s alienation from nature. However, there are criticisms that this philosophy is flawed and that history shows that mental illness and disorder existed even when people respected their environment. Ecologists remind ecopsychologists that the laws of science cannot be ignored, and that man cannot exist without the Earth.
Ecopsychology, also known as green psychology, earth-centered psychology, and environmental psychology, deals with the belief that humans must be in harmony with the Earth to enjoy a healthy mind, peace, and happiness. Some people who have embraced the principles of ecopsychology also maintain that man must be in harmony with the cosmos that affects planet Earth. It could be said that this belief system is based not only on various forms of traditional psychology but also on spirituality, because followers believe that mental disorders, unhappiness, violence and other problems seen in societies around the world are reality the result of man’s alienation from nature and its rhythms of life.
Ecopsychologists not only believe that the problem with psychologically disturbed people is their alienation from nature, but also that they must look for an underlying motivation for destructive environmental habits; some people have high hopes that this thought will be the answer for many disturbed minds and abusive individuals. Despite the explanations offered by the foundations of ecopsychology, there are many people who identify what they consider to be serious flaws in the philosophy underpinning the discipline. For example, ecopsychologists label a person’s participation in destructive, violent, and criminal activities as an expression of an innate need to belong. They argue, however, that what the person needs in order to belong or fit in is the natural world around them, not a particular group of people. Many who disagree with this pattern of thinking say there are ancient sources believed to be scriptures that refute that diagnosis, labeling such behaviors as sins resulting from an alienation from God, not from the natural world God created.
Many arguments against the teachings of ecopsychology that have not been refuted are based neither on psychology nor on spirituality; rather one could say that they are based on history. All forms of ecopsychology consistently assert that mental illness and disorder, violence, destruction and cruelty are all expressions of an alienation from nature – an alienation which will disappear by becoming one with the Earth. History reveals, however, that there was much violence, mental illness, disorder and unhappiness during ancient times when people respected their environment, breathed clean air, drank clean water, appreciated natural beauty and ate wholesome foods grown biologically.
Believers in ecopsychology argue that man’s problems cannot be solved without consideration for his natural environment and that the problems of the natural world cannot be solved without consideration for man. Ecologists, however, encourage ecopsychologists to remember that the laws of science are not to be ignored even when dealing with the mind and spirit. They say that the Earth is able to exist without the presence of a man to look after it, but man currently cannot exist without the Earth, from which he draws food, shelter, natural medicines, air and water.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
