Comment on Environmental and Social Psychology

Abstract

Altman (1976) presented an excellent descriptive exposition of the history and present status of environmental psychology. However, I disagree with Altman about the potential relationships between envir onmental psychology and social psychology. Altman is optimistic that the two disciplines have much to offer each other. For reasons elabo rated in this response, I am pessimistic as to whether social psychology can make any serious contributions to environmental psychology. If the concepts and methods that social psychologists presently employ to study environmental problems are the best they have to offer, I conclude that social psychologists would be well advised to leave the study of environ mental psychology to environmental psychologists.