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International Society for the Systems Sciences: Ecology & Sustainability. The Psychology of Sustainability: Mental Models @ Work John Adams, Ph.D. Saybrook Graduate School July 12, 2006. Focuses. A Convergence of the Oracles Mental Models and Sustainability Generating New Frames.
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International Society for the Systems Sciences: Ecology & Sustainability The Psychology of Sustainability: Mental Models @ Work John Adams, Ph.D. Saybrook Graduate School July 12, 2006
Focuses • A Convergence of the Oracles • Mental Models and Sustainability • Generating New Frames
The Self Fulfilling Prophecy If we continue to believe as we have always believed, we will continue to act as we have always acted. If we continue to act as we have always acted, we will continue to get what we have always gotten. Marilyn Ferguson
Autopilot Nature of Mindset The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice, there is little we can do to change, until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds. Ronald D. Laing
Red Blue Rose Daisy Chair Couch Hammer Apple
Green Rose Daisy Chair Couch Hammer Apple
Higher Order Thinking Required We cannot expect to be able to resolve any complex problem from within the same manner of thinking that created it in the first place. Albert Einstein
Six Mental Models Themes • Time Orientation • Responsiveness • Attention Range • Logic Basis • Problem Consideration • Life Focus
Predominant Mental Models • Short Term • Reactive • Local / Parochial • Either / Or • Accountability & Blame • Doing / Having
World of money Economic growth Exploitation of nature Business Jobs Consumerism Land as asset Development Egocentric Machine Linear: either/or Urgency Takers Fault finding Doing / having ECONOMICS WORLDVIEW
The Frames • The Business of Business is Profits • Shareholder Return • Speed to Market
Probably No Better ! • Long Term • Creative • Global • Both / And (Systems) • Learning • Being
Frames That Undermine • Pie in the Sky • Ivory Tower • Flip Flop
World of nature Balance, limits Harmony with nature Ecosystems Environmental protection Ceiling on desires Land as life Conservation Ecocentric Organism Holistic: both/and Strategic Leavers Learning Being ECOLOGICAL WORLDVIEW
World of people Human rights Trust & cooperation Community Quality of life Aspiration New job creation Security Capability Self esteem Neighborhood / region Inclusiveness Diversity Justice & Equity Altruism SOCIETAL WORLDVIEW
The Frames • We’re All In This Together • Together We Can Do It • It’s A Small World After All
Frank Outlaw Watch your mindset, it becomes your thoughts. Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
Mark Twain “What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.”