USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

First Advisor

Kellan Anfinson, Ph.D.

Publisher

University of South Florida St. Petersburg

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

2023

Abstract

We live in a society that is consumed with consuming. An inability to escape the urge to obtain more possessions is ever-increasing. Every aspect of our lives is surrounded by product placement with the goal of creating the false narrative that you are lacking something that will if obtained, add to the value of your life and bring you a step closer to becoming the person you long to be. This never-ending necessity to spend is matched with an excruciating pull to accumulate wealth in order to feed these desires. This commodification of our every move and existence is having grave impacts on the individual’s psyche, mental stability, ability to remain in the present moment, and much more. But this is not simply reaping consequences on the individual. Rather, this material mentality is having dangerous, irreparable, and overtly negative impacts on the planet that we reside on. The very thing allowing for all of this material possession to exist is failing to keep up with the over-consumption patterns of humans it provided life for, and this is not new information.

For decades scientists have been trying to warn us that Earth simply cannot keep up with the rapidly growing population, depleting natural resources, and rising global temperatures. There is a plethora of information available at the click of a button that explains, scientifically, the causes and impacts of climate change. This leads to the question of if the masses are aware or able to be aware of the problem occurring, why have we been unable to prevent it? Surely there is enough scientific proof, and technologies are rapidly changing to create more sustainable alternatives. So what is preventing us from making the necessary steps to ensure a future for the human race? There are many different theories and approaches to what social processes have caused global warming and prevented an adequate response. The present research will be analyzing and comparing two major philosophical approaches to creating change in the Western 2 world’s social response to climate change and consumerist identities. The first approach to creating change includes a bottom up-approach that argues for a change in individual behavior to shift attitudes. The second approach denies the previous and argues instead for an overall transformation that involves the death of a collective identity and an acceptance of a lost future. The validity of these approaches will be tested using research found in the field of social psychology which will provide a conclusion that will offer the positives and negatives of both approaches to societal change.

Comments

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University Honors Program University of South Florida, St. Petersburg March 29, 2023.

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