Saving the World with Organizational Psychology
This nonfiction book applies knowledge from applied psychology, history, biology, activism, statistics, politics, music, and natural history to support practical climate action, offering a new, vital perspective on how we can achieve a sustainable, inclusive future.
I argue that "social invention" – the uniquely human ability to create and rapidly modify social organizations – is the key to our evolutionary success. It is this revolutionary ability, however, that has brought us to the brink of environmental catastrophe. Therapy for a Small Planet examines the psychology behind this paradox, showing how our motivations, biases, social identities, conflicts, and blendings foster social inventions, then offers practical, ethical approaches to harness these forces.
The book uses real-world examples and avoids academic jargon, weaving together scientific research, historical examples, and personal anecdotes to illustrate complex concepts. It began as my first attempt to lure ordinary non-fiction readers (especially book clubbers) by using the vernacular narrative style that had been removed from my most recent scholarly book, Sustainable Solutions (2022, American Psychological Association). This narrative approach is particularly appropriate, since the book challenges conventional thinking about sustainability, arguing that the focus on individual behavior change alone is insufficient. Instead, we need to address the underlying social structures and psychological processes that drive our collective actions. It is my fondest hope that this argument will appeal to a broad audience, similar to readers of Tamed by Alice Roberts, Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond, Why the West Rules—for Now by Ian Morris, The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, Rising Tide by John Barry, and Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. These books, like mine, explore broad aspects of the human condition using interdisciplinary approaches. However, mine relies on extensive findings provided by applied research from organizational psychology and its related disciplines, rather than the basic research undergirding these other books. I offer practical approaches to managing ourselves.
My background as an industrial-organizational (I-O) psychologist, editor, consultant, historian,
nonpartisan city council member, activist, and Bashalde musician provides a unique perspective that informs this work. I have published extensively on topics related to group management, prejudice, and inclusion. My edited volume, Nepotism in Organizations, and my more recent books, Applied Psychology of Sustainability and Sustainable Solutions, have established me as a thought leader in applying psychology to real-world challenges. My work has been featured in national and international media outlets, including NPR and Forbes. Broadly, I hope that my unique perspective and narrative style will contribute to the success of Therapy for a Small Planet, but I am also ready to do my part to promote
