Rationality and the exploitation of natural resources: a psychobiological conceptual model for sustainability

• Published in: Environment, development and sustainability Vol. 27; no. 6; pp. 13167 - 13189
• Main Authors: Ruiz Serrano, Andres, Musumeci, Andrea, Li, Juan Julie, Ruiz Serrano, Mauricio, Serrano Barquin, Carolina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.06.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Climate; Cognition; Conceptual models; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Economic Geology; Economic Growth; Economics; Ecosystems; Environment; Environmental Economics; Environmental Management; Exploitation; Literature reviews; Morality; Natural resources; Psychology; Rational choice; Rationality; Resource exploitation; Restitution; Sociology; Substitutes; Sustainability; Sustainable Development; Natural resources; General system theory; Progress; Institutional theory; Rationality; Sustainable development
• ISSN: 1573-2975; 1387-585X; 1573-2975
• DOI: 10.1007/s10668-024-04470-3

This article proposes a psychobiological conceptual model that incorporates the vulnerability and exhaustibility of the ecosystem into the notion of rational behavior. After providing a review of relevant literature in economics, psychology and sociology, we analyze the theoretical and practical lim...