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Cognition-based View of Decision Processes in Complex Social-Ecological Systems

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dc.contributor.author Beratan, Kathi K. en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2009-07-31T14:56:12Z
dc.date.available 2009-07-31T14:56:12Z
dc.date.issued 2007 en_US
dc.date.submitted 2007-08-30 en_US
dc.date.submitted 2007-08-30 en_US
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/10535/3010
dc.description.abstract "This synthesis paper is intended to provide an overview of individual and collective decision making processes that might serve as a theoretical foundation for a complexity-based approach to environmental policy design and natural resource management planning. Human activities are the primary drivers of change in the Earth's biosphere today, so efforts to shift the trajectory of social-ecological systems must focus on changes in individual and collective human behavior. Recent advances in understanding the biological basis of thought and memory offer insights of use in designing management and planning processes. The human brain has evolved ways of dealing with complexity and uncertainty, and is particularly attuned to social information. Changes in an individual's schemas, reflecting changes in the patterns of neural connections that are activated by particular stimuli, occur primarily through nonconsious processes in response to experiential learning during repeated exposure to novel situations, ideas, and relationships. Discourse is an important mechanism for schema modification, and thus for behavior change. Through discourse, groups of people construct a shared story - a collective model - that is useful for predicting likely outcomes of actions and events. In effect, good stories are models that filter and organize distributed knowledge about complex situations and relationships in ways that are readily absorbed by human cognitive processes. The importance of discourse supports the view that collaborative approaches are needed to effectively deal with environmental problems and natural resource management challenges. Methods derived from the field of mediation and dispute resolution can help us take advantage of the distinctly human ability to deal with complexity and uncertainty. This cognitive view of decision making supports fundamental elements of resilience management and adaptive co-management, including fostering social learning through the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders, and building trust and increasing links among governance organizations." en_US
dc.subject cognition en_US
dc.subject complexity en_US
dc.subject environmental policy en_US
dc.subject culture en_US
dc.subject decision making en_US
dc.subject natural resources en_US
dc.subject resource management en_US
dc.title Cognition-based View of Decision Processes in Complex Social-Ecological Systems en_US
dc.type Journal Article en_US
dc.type.published published en_US
dc.subject.sector Social Organization en_US
dc.subject.sector General & Multiple Resources en_US
dc.identifier.citationjournal Ecology and Society en_US
dc.identifier.citationvolume 12 en_US
dc.identifier.citationnumber 1 en_US
dc.identifier.citationmonth June en_US
dc.submitter.email aurasova@indiana.edu en_US


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