Invited Editor: Víctor Corral-Verdugo
Department of Psychology
University of Sonora at Hermosillo, Mexico

Call open from: November 2013
Abstract submission deadline: 31st December 2013

Background

A growing number of social and behavioral researchers are exhibiting an interest in defining and exploring intersections between positive psychology and environmental psychology. Since both approaches share the goals of promoting conditions conducive to human wellbeing and environmental quality, such intersection is promising and deserves consideration.

Recent findings show that it is not only possible to gain psychological positivity (wellbeing, happiness, growth) from exposure to positive environmental conditions, but also that the conservation of the environment is promoted by psychological positivity. Thus, the interdependence between environmental and psychological positivity seems to be a worthwhile subject of study.

This special issue of Psyecology is devoted to discuss and explore ways in which environmental psychology and positive psychology may interact in studying human and environmental positivity.

Scope

The first aim of the special issue Positive and Environmental Psychology is to address psychological positivity from the perspective of environmental psychology. In this sense, studies reporting the influence of particular settings on positive emotions, psychological wellbeing, personal growth, and civic virtues are welcome.

One more aim is to report studies dealing with the positive psychological instigators of sustainable behaviors, and the psychological benefits that people experience from their engaging in environmentally-protective behaviors (i.e., the positive psychology of sustainability).

With these goals in mind, the submitted papers would take into consideration the positive environmental, cognitive, behavioral and affective dimensions interacting with each other in the emergence and maintenance of, both, quality of life for people and environmental quality. Therefore, the papers would include, but would not be restricted to address, the following topics:

• Positive environments
• Happiness as correlate of sustainable behaviors
• Restorative benefits of sustainable environments
• Intrinsic positive consequences of pro-environmental behavior
• Personal wellbeing and sustainability
• Positive psychological indicators of a sustainable environment
• The affordances of sustainable behavior
• Positive emotions, naturalness, and environmental conservation
• Positive schools
• Positive institutions
• Positive families
• Virtues, psychological strengths and sustainability
• Transactional and systemic perspectives on environmental positivity

Languages

English and Spanish

Proposals submission

Taking into consideration the above themes and the focus on environmental psychology and psychological positivity, we cordially invite manuscript submissions that describe empirical studies and consider one or more of the above themes. Theoretical approaches will also be accepted if they present an innovative perspective on the issues and an integrated viewpoint across environmental psychology, positive psychology and other social science approaches. Please note that submitted papers should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere.

The articles submitted can be written in English or Spanish, following the journal's Author guidelines. However, initially, a 500 word extended abstract in English must be submitted; deadline for the reception of abstracts is December 31st, 2013.

Please send your extended abstract in MS Word format as an attachment to the following e-mail address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

A confirmation email will be sent upon reception. The submission email should include in the subject line, the title of this special issue. In addition, your abstract should include the following information: title, author names and affiliations, main text (500 words), and references.

Authors will be notified if the extended abstract has been approved by February 1st, 2014. Upon approval by the invited Editorial Staff, authors will be asked to submit full papers (not exceeding 20 pages in length or 5000 words, including notes, references, and all other elements), before May 21st, 2014. All submissions will be peer- reviewed by outside experts.