Urbanized knowledge syndrome—erosion of diversity and systems thinking in urbanites’ mental models
Abstract Coastal ecosystems nearby human societies collectively shape complex social-ecological systems (SESs). These ecosystems support high levels of ecological biodiversity while providing resources and services to humans. However, shoreline armoring, land transformation, and urban homogenization...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2022-05-01
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| Series: | npj Urban Sustainability |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-022-00054-0 |
| _version_ | 1811305811318669312 |
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| author | Payam Aminpour Steven A. Gray Michael W. Beck Kelsi L. Furman Ismini Tsakiri Rachel K. Gittman Jonathan H. Grabowski Jennifer Helgeson Lauren Josephs Matthias Ruth Steven B. Scyphers |
| author_facet | Payam Aminpour Steven A. Gray Michael W. Beck Kelsi L. Furman Ismini Tsakiri Rachel K. Gittman Jonathan H. Grabowski Jennifer Helgeson Lauren Josephs Matthias Ruth Steven B. Scyphers |
| author_sort | Payam Aminpour |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Coastal ecosystems nearby human societies collectively shape complex social-ecological systems (SESs). These ecosystems support high levels of ecological biodiversity while providing resources and services to humans. However, shoreline armoring, land transformation, and urban homogenization across urbanized coastal areas may degrade natural ecosystems and alter how humans and nature are connected. We hypothesize that these alterations extend to residents’ knowledge of SESs. We explore evidence of such cognitive outcomes in graphical mental models of more than 1350 coastal residents across eight states in the Northeast United States. Our results revealed that, in more urbanized areas, residents’ mental models underrepresented complex interdependence between humans and natural components, indicating limited systems thinking. Additionally, urbanization and shoreline armoring were associated with homogenization of mental models. We refer to these results as Urbanized Knowledge Syndrome (UKS). Importantly, respondents with more symptoms of UKS were less likely to self-report adoption of pro-environmental behaviors. These results indicate a potential societal-level erosion of ecological knowledge associated with urbanization in the same way more urbanized areas are associated with diminishing ecological function. Thus, diagnosing and treating UKS is an essential component of urban sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:33:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1d22434d70c748a397b825f5fc15610b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2661-8001 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:33:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Urban Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-1d22434d70c748a397b825f5fc15610b2022-12-22T02:54:11ZengNature Portfolionpj Urban Sustainability2661-80012022-05-012111010.1038/s42949-022-00054-0Urbanized knowledge syndrome—erosion of diversity and systems thinking in urbanites’ mental modelsPayam Aminpour0Steven A. Gray1Michael W. Beck2Kelsi L. Furman3Ismini Tsakiri4Rachel K. Gittman5Jonathan H. Grabowski6Jennifer Helgeson7Lauren Josephs8Matthias Ruth9Steven B. Scyphers10Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins UniversityDepartment of Community Sustainability, Michigan State UniversityInstitute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa CruzDepartment of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern UniversityDepartment of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern UniversityDepartment of Biology, East Carolina UniversityDepartment of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern UniversityApplied Economics Office, National Institute of Standards and TechnologyCoastal Resources Center, University of Rhode IslandSchool of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Northeastern UniversityDepartment of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern UniversityAbstract Coastal ecosystems nearby human societies collectively shape complex social-ecological systems (SESs). These ecosystems support high levels of ecological biodiversity while providing resources and services to humans. However, shoreline armoring, land transformation, and urban homogenization across urbanized coastal areas may degrade natural ecosystems and alter how humans and nature are connected. We hypothesize that these alterations extend to residents’ knowledge of SESs. We explore evidence of such cognitive outcomes in graphical mental models of more than 1350 coastal residents across eight states in the Northeast United States. Our results revealed that, in more urbanized areas, residents’ mental models underrepresented complex interdependence between humans and natural components, indicating limited systems thinking. Additionally, urbanization and shoreline armoring were associated with homogenization of mental models. We refer to these results as Urbanized Knowledge Syndrome (UKS). Importantly, respondents with more symptoms of UKS were less likely to self-report adoption of pro-environmental behaviors. These results indicate a potential societal-level erosion of ecological knowledge associated with urbanization in the same way more urbanized areas are associated with diminishing ecological function. Thus, diagnosing and treating UKS is an essential component of urban sustainability.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-022-00054-0 |
| spellingShingle | Payam Aminpour Steven A. Gray Michael W. Beck Kelsi L. Furman Ismini Tsakiri Rachel K. Gittman Jonathan H. Grabowski Jennifer Helgeson Lauren Josephs Matthias Ruth Steven B. Scyphers Urbanized knowledge syndrome—erosion of diversity and systems thinking in urbanites’ mental models npj Urban Sustainability |
| title | Urbanized knowledge syndrome—erosion of diversity and systems thinking in urbanites’ mental models |
| title_full | Urbanized knowledge syndrome—erosion of diversity and systems thinking in urbanites’ mental models |
| title_fullStr | Urbanized knowledge syndrome—erosion of diversity and systems thinking in urbanites’ mental models |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urbanized knowledge syndrome—erosion of diversity and systems thinking in urbanites’ mental models |
| title_short | Urbanized knowledge syndrome—erosion of diversity and systems thinking in urbanites’ mental models |
| title_sort | urbanized knowledge syndrome erosion of diversity and systems thinking in urbanites mental models |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-022-00054-0 |
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