Human Behaviour and Environment (ENST20001)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 1
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This subject explores psychological and social dimensions of environmental sustainability and landscape and ecosystem management. The subject examines the ways humans experience, interact and behave in the physical environment. This is done by exploring psycho-social dimensions of human-environment interactions examining frameworks for understanding environmental concern and environmentally significant behaviour. Topics include: psychological bases for human-environment relationships (considering biological and cognitive needs, social identity and other forms of motivation); frameworks for understanding attitudes to environmental issues and for understanding environmentally significant behaviour; strategies for enhancing, awareness, concern and action for sustainability.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Describe factors that influence the ways people value and interact with environments.
  • Analyse factors that contribute to public support and opposition to environmental practice and policy.
  • Analyse factors that encourage or discourage environmentally sustainable behaviour.
  • Discuss and suggest strategies for encouraging environmental awareness, concern and behaviour.

Generic skills

  • Moderate capacity to interpret and apply information from a range of sources to better understand human behaviour.
  • High level written communication.
  • Moderate level ability to synthesise data with other information.
  • Basic skills in social research, and particularly qualitative data collection and analysis.
  • Moderate level ability to apply theory to practice

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

Students undertaking this subject will be expected to regularly access an internet-enabled computer to access readings, class information and data.

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Assessment

Additional details

• Written Report,  1500 words, due Week 5 (35%)
• Written Report,  1500 words, week 10 (35%)
• Take home exam, 1000 words, due during the exam period (30%)

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    CoordinatorKathryn Williams
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours30 hours; 1 x 1 hr lecture per week, 1 x 1.5 hr tutorials per week
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period 4 March 2019 to 2 June 2019
    Last self-enrol date15 March 2019
    Census date31 March 2019
    Last date to withdraw without fail10 May 2019
    Assessment period ends28 June 2019

    Semester 1 contact information

    kjhw@unimelb.edu.au

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    Subject reader.

    Recommended texts and other resources

    Gardner, G. T., & Stern, P. C. (2002). Environmental problems and human behavior (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing.

    Koger, S. M., & Winter, D. D. N. (2010). The Psychology of Environmental problems: Psychology for Sustainability (3rd ed.). New York: Psychology Press.

    Steg, L., van den Berg, A.E. and de Groot, J.I.M (2013). Environmental Psychology. Chichester UK: BPS Blackwell.

  • Subject notes

    This subject replaces 207205 Human Dimensions of Resource Management.

  • Related Handbook entries

    This subject contributes to the following:

    TypeName
    Informal specialisationScience-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI
    MajorEcosystem Science
    Informal specialisationEnvironments Discipline subjects
    MajorLandscape Ecosystem Management
    Breadth TrackPeople and Environment
  • Breadth options

    This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:

  • Available through the Community Access Program

    About the Community Access Program (CAP)

    This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.

    Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants

    Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.

  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 20 March 2025