Teaching nonviolent communication to increase empathy between people and toward wildlife to promote human–wildlife coexistence

Abstract Promoting human–wildlife coexistence in complex systems where both relationships between people and toward wildlife need to be managed is challenging. We applied nonviolent communication (NVC) training as part of a participatory dialogue program to increase empathic concern toward wildlife...

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Main Authors: Ruth Kansky, Tarek Maassarani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Conservation Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12862
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author Ruth Kansky
Tarek Maassarani
author_facet Ruth Kansky
Tarek Maassarani
author_sort Ruth Kansky
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Promoting human–wildlife coexistence in complex systems where both relationships between people and toward wildlife need to be managed is challenging. We applied nonviolent communication (NVC) training as part of a participatory dialogue program to increase empathic concern toward wildlife and between people to promote human–wildlife coexistence. NVC was developed in the 1960s by Marshal Rosenberg, a clinical psychologist who sought to incorporate empathy and compassion into everyday language. Using weekly reflexive feedback from participants, we collected 36 examples of attitude change and 71 examples of behavior change that demonstrated increased empathic concern for both people and wildlife. Therefore, NVC training has potential to be an effective tool to increase empathy and promote tolerance and human–wildlife coexistence. This is the first attempt to use NVC in the biodiversity sector, and we believe these results show promise for its wider application as a tool for participatory dialogues to improve collaboration, understanding and resolve conflicts.
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spelling doaj.art-686d8fc2199544a893541ee7601463912022-12-21T17:25:27ZengWileyConservation Letters1755-263X2022-01-01151n/an/a10.1111/conl.12862Teaching nonviolent communication to increase empathy between people and toward wildlife to promote human–wildlife coexistenceRuth Kansky0Tarek Maassarani1Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology Stellenbosch University Matieland South AfricaJustice and Peace Program Georgetown University N.W. Washington District of ColumbiaAbstract Promoting human–wildlife coexistence in complex systems where both relationships between people and toward wildlife need to be managed is challenging. We applied nonviolent communication (NVC) training as part of a participatory dialogue program to increase empathic concern toward wildlife and between people to promote human–wildlife coexistence. NVC was developed in the 1960s by Marshal Rosenberg, a clinical psychologist who sought to incorporate empathy and compassion into everyday language. Using weekly reflexive feedback from participants, we collected 36 examples of attitude change and 71 examples of behavior change that demonstrated increased empathic concern for both people and wildlife. Therefore, NVC training has potential to be an effective tool to increase empathy and promote tolerance and human–wildlife coexistence. This is the first attempt to use NVC in the biodiversity sector, and we believe these results show promise for its wider application as a tool for participatory dialogues to improve collaboration, understanding and resolve conflicts.https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12862biodiversity conflictscollaborationcommunicationdialoguesempathyengagement
spellingShingle Ruth Kansky
Tarek Maassarani
Teaching nonviolent communication to increase empathy between people and toward wildlife to promote human–wildlife coexistence
Conservation Letters
biodiversity conflicts
collaboration
communication
dialogues
empathy
engagement
title Teaching nonviolent communication to increase empathy between people and toward wildlife to promote human–wildlife coexistence
title_full Teaching nonviolent communication to increase empathy between people and toward wildlife to promote human–wildlife coexistence
title_fullStr Teaching nonviolent communication to increase empathy between people and toward wildlife to promote human–wildlife coexistence
title_full_unstemmed Teaching nonviolent communication to increase empathy between people and toward wildlife to promote human–wildlife coexistence
title_short Teaching nonviolent communication to increase empathy between people and toward wildlife to promote human–wildlife coexistence
title_sort teaching nonviolent communication to increase empathy between people and toward wildlife to promote human wildlife coexistence
topic biodiversity conflicts
collaboration
communication
dialogues
empathy
engagement
url https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12862
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