Tal Alon, Kerret Dorit
The Department of Public Policy, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 6997801, Israel.
Heliyon. 2020 Apr 7;6(4):e03696. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03696. eCollection 2020 Apr.
Demographic stability constitutes a paramount global environmental objective. Yet, decades of efforts, highlighting the perils of overpopulation, have failed to slow the rapid global population growth. In considering an alternative strategy, insights from the field of positive psychology are explored for their potential to inform future demographic policies. After briefly reviewing sustainable advocacy efforts, different theories behind individual fertility decisions are presented. Following, key components of prominent successful family planning interventions are analysed using a 'positive psychology' perspective. Three 'positive psychology' strategies are explored for their potential to inform sustainable population: a "direct" approach that emphasizes individual benefits rather than indirect gains through mitigation of damages; an emphasis on the convergence between the collective and individual benefits of two--child families; and application of behavioral change theories in demographic policies to better facilitate sustainable individual fertility decisions. The paper posits that a positive psychology conceptualization offers a promising way to re-think the design of demographic policies and frame sustainable population interventions.
人口结构稳定是一项至关重要的全球环境目标。然而，数十年来强调人口过剩危害的努力未能减缓全球人口的快速增长。在考虑替代策略时，我们探讨了积极心理学领域的见解，以了解其为未来人口政策提供信息的潜力。在简要回顾可持续倡导努力之后，介绍了个人生育决策背后的不同理论。随后，使用“积极心理学”视角分析了著名成功计划生育干预措施的关键组成部分。探讨了三种“积极心理学”策略为可持续人口提供信息的潜力：一种“直接”方法，强调个人利益而非通过减轻损害获得的间接收益；强调二孩家庭集体利益与个人利益的趋同；以及在人口政策中应用行为改变理论，以更好地促进可持续的个人生育决策。本文认为，积极心理学概念为重新思考人口政策设计和构建可持续人口干预措施提供了一条有前景的途径。
