Environmental behavior is the perception people have on how to cater to the environment and conserve it consciously, for example, recycling. Pro-environmental behavior is the mannerism meant to reduce the impact human activities have on nature and the built world, for example, a company going green in order to improve the sustainability of the workplace. Goal-directed pro-environmental behavior is adopting ways of reducing environmental damage by focusing on certain areas, for example, afforestation or minimizing greenhouse gases.

The advantages of using values such as protecting the environment in environmental, psychological research include provision of economically efficient tools for understanding diversity between cultures, individuals, and groups. Values also help in predicting behavior and attitude of different people. Consequently, it is easy to influence change of behavior towards the environment. The disadvantage of using values is that it may not be fully effective because it requires a combined effort to achieve change in behavior towards the environment.

Social norms are set rules in given societies that determine the appropriate or unacceptable beliefs, behavior, attitudes, and values. Injunctive social norms are the approved behavior in the society by a majority of the people, for example, lowering the voice in the library. Descriptive norms, by contrast, are the views of people’s behavior in the society, regardless of whether they are acceptable or not, for example, clapping after a performance in a theatre.

The theory of material possession states that everything in the world is considered matter, disregarding intellectual and spiritual wealth. The theory considers giving preference to one’s material wealth and being obsessed with them that one gets distracted from the intellectual and spiritual well-being.

There are two main defining characteristics of social dilemmas. The first is that an individual’s social payoff for defecting behavior is higher than that of cooperating behavior despite the actions of other members of the society. For example, the choice to drive rather than ride bicycles during pollution alerts because an individual car’s contribution to the pollution is negligible, yet they all contribute to the problem by driving. The second defining characteristic is that all people in the society receive a lower social payoff when they defect than when they cooperate. For example, soldiers on the battlefield are better off not taking any risks despite what their comrades do.

The planned behavior theory indicates that individuals’ behavior highly relies on their intentions, which are influenced by the subjective norm and attitude. Only certain attitudes towards a given behavior will be significant in determining the behavior in question.

Variability and repetition are the two factors that mainly characterize habitual behavior. When one is used to doing the same thing repeatedly, they gain habitual behavior of doing something. Repetitive disposal of garbage correctly and conservatively is an example of positive environmental behavior. On the contrary, the daily use of carbon fuels to cook is an example of a negative environmental behavior.

Mountains, glaciers, plateaus, and volcanoes are the main geographical features of the Latin American region. The region also has a rich biodiversity characterized by the largest gene pool in the world. The Amazon forest is also a significant feature of the region.

A university willing to implement a recycling program would be advised to introduce compulsory recycling of disposables such as plastic bags and tins. It can also adopt a collection point of recyclable material in the school compound where students dispose of the recyclables.

Some behavior act as natural reinforcers towards behavior, for example, awarding a child for exemplary performance is essential in motivating the child naturally. Artificial reinforcement involves the use of outside forces to get the work done. For example, offering a bribe to a player will not be as efficient as when he or she plays voluntarily out of passion.

The use of persuasive technology such as EconoMeter can be necessary in encouraging people to drive their cars economically; thus, reducing pollution levels in the country. Creation of pollution alerts is an example of pro-environmental behavior that aims at reducing pollution levels caused by motorists. Persuasive technology serves in decision making at the community level, creating awareness of a product or service to members of the society, and persuading people towards accepting a certain behavior or norms.

It is essential to study the acceptability of environmental policies so that one can easily adapt to the environmental policies and adjust their environmental behavior for sustainability. Acceptance of the environmental policies will be useful in encouraging people to respect the environment by observing the set policies and guidelines.

Kurt Lewin describes the human aspect of change in three stages. The unfreezing stage prepares people to get ready for change by accepting that change is necessary and inevitable. Transition is the second stage where people make the necessary changes, which is a process and not an event. Refreezing is the final stage, which involves accepting and adjusting to the changes made since they are the new norms.

Examples of emergent phenomena that have affected population behavior towards the environment include industrialization, civilization, and agriculture. Agricultural activities will cause people to clear land, causing deforestation; setting up of industries leads to global warming and pollution, and civilization will lead to the manufacture of cars that emit hazardous gases to the environment.

Encouraging and educating people on ways of conserving the environment are fundamental tools of environmental psychology used in solving environmental problems. For example, encouraging recycling, using public transport instead of self-drives, using alternative energy resources, and using biodegradable packaging materials are some of the solutions to environmental problems in developing countries.