Self in practice in an ecological community: Connecting personal, social, and ecological worlds at the Ecovillage at Ithaca.
Item
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Title
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Self in practice in an ecological community: Connecting personal, social, and ecological worlds at the Ecovillage at Ithaca.
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Identifier
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AAI3127889
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identifier
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3127889
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Creator
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Kirby, Andrew.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Setha Low
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Date
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2004
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Social | Anthropology, Cultural
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Abstract
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The purpose of this research was to investigate the manner in which living in an ecologically and socially oriented community provides opportunities for redefining the self-world relationship. It was proposed that residents' motivations for becoming involved in the project to construct the EcoVillage at Ithaca (EVI) were the desire to establish a sense of connectedness between personal, social, and ecological aspects of their experience. The goals identified were recognized as being in broad alignment with the tenets of a new environmental paradigm (NEP). This paradigm has arisen as a challenge to the dominant social paradigm (DSP) that is viewed as being responsible for increasing levels of social and ecological degradation.;The research set out to investigate how the practices that are developing at the EcoVillage offer the potential for developing a sense of self that is in alignment with the NEP. EVI is viewed as part of an emerging movement that is driven by the need to reduce the sense of dissonance that individuals experience when their sense of who they are is not represented by the behaviors that they are forced by the dominant culture to adopt. Self in this context is conceived as a process rather than as an entity. Fundamental to this investigation is consideration of the nature of the self-world relationship as revealed from diverse literature sources. Social and cultural practices, beliefs, ideals and attitudes towards the individual and the environment are viewed as key in shaping the individual's understanding and experience of selfhood. The research explores the relevance of EVI as a space in which to manifest a more ecologically and socially oriented relationship with the world.;Analysis of the research data suggests that at the local level, members of EVI are developing relationships with the world that promotes the good of the community and the ecological environment over purely self-interested behavior. The EcoVillage represents a unique learning experience for its residents, and a location in which to continue to work on developing the kind of responsible and connected sense of self that residents believe offers the potential for a sustainable future.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
