Towards a Psychology of the Food‐Energy‐Water Nexus: Costs and Opportunities. (10th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dreyer, Stacia J.; Kurz, Tim; Prosser, Annayah M.B.; Abrash Walton, Abigail; Dennings, Kelley; McNeill, Ilona; Saber, Deborah A.; Swim, Janet K.
• Editors: Ruby, Matthew B.; Walker, Iain; Watkins, Hanne
• Is Part Of: Journal of social issues. Volume 76:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 136
• Page End: 149
• Publication Date: 2019-12-10
• Subjects: Social problems -- Periodicals; Social psychology -- Periodicals; United States -- Social conditions -- 1945- -- Periodicals; Sociology; Psychology, Social; Problèmes sociaux -- Périodiques; Psychologie sociale -- Périodiques; États-Unis -- Conditions sociales -- 1945- -- Périodiques; Sociale psychologie; Electronic journals; 305
• DOI: 10.1111/josi.12361
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4537

Abstract

Abstract: Scholars, government scientific research institutions, and public policy‐making entities are increasingly focusing on environmental issues from a food‐energy‐water (FEW) nexus perspective. This nexus represents the interconnection of these three systems, which are essential to human life. The FEW nexus is inherently and inescapably interdisciplinary. However, to date, there have been relatively few academic contributions to understanding the nexus from the social sciences, particularly from psychology. In this article, we suggest an extended framing of the nexus (food‐energy‐water x human) to explicitly recognize how human actions in the form of both consumption practices and population size and distribution impact the FEW nexus. We outline important contributions that psychology researchers could make in FEW nexus focused research teams. In doing so, we acknowledge difficulties and potential risks for psychology researchers engaging in FEW nexus based research, but suggest that, while such difficulties can create barriers, they can also present opportunities for psychologists.