The Social Psychology Of Sustainability  

    Sustainability is achieved when all people on Earth can live well without compromising the quality of life 
for future generations.     

The four main types of sustainability are 
  
     •  human 
      •  social 
       •  economic 
        •  environmental      
        
        The social dimension of sustainability encompasses the political, the cultural & all people-centered 
issues, except the economic. It entails ensuring that the basic conditions for human life to flourish exist 
within society. These include:     

    •  Social interaction, sense of belonging & spiritual enrichment 
     •  Food, shelter & clothing 
      •  Education 
       •  Health care      
       
       The vision of sustainable human society resides in the simultaneous creation of healthy economic 
growth & equity, healthy ecosystems & conservation of natural resources, & worldwide social 
development.     

     The vision of a sustainable human society is known in the business world as a "triple bottom line".
    
     The "triple bottom line" is a business principle that measures corporate performance along three lines: 
profits, environmental sustainability, & social responsibility.      

     The "triple bottom line" is people, planet & profit. Social equity & environmental quality are just as 
important as profit.

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        •  The United States has 5% of the Earth's population & is consuming 25% of the Earth' nonrenewable 
        resources.        
        
        •  Present consumption rates are exceeding the carrying capacity of the planet.

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     Flow: an optimal state of absorption during which we lose consciousness of time & self. Proposed by positive 
psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, the concept has been widely referenced across a variety of fields. The 
psychological concept of flow as becoming absorbed in an activity is unrelated to the older phrase 
"to go with the flow" which means "to conform".
  
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                                                                 Social Psychology
                                                                    Robert C. Gates