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YOUTH TYPOLOGY
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The following are the ideal types of young environmentalists derived from my findings. If you consider yourself someone who is concerned about the environment, try to locate yourself in one of these categories. Consider that at different times in your life, you may have found yourself more in one category than another. As your environmental awareness and consciousness expands, you will find yourself changing types. (Remember that the categories are ideal types and thus not all characteristics may apply but the majority would.
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The Self-Seeking Operator
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Concern for the environment is superficial; Actions undertaken are for self benefit; Power lies inherently in institutions; Only personal change is sought; Significant differences exist between young people and adults; There is satisfaction with the functioning of society; and, Future outlook is positive.
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The Conscientious Explorer
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Concern for the environment is strong but more at the local level; Issues are being explored and opinions beginning to be formed with current views apolitical; Actions are of a practical nature; Power exists everywhere, more often a mysterious force out there; Accepting authority but also questioning it; Seeking changes at all levels but the nature of the necessary changes is unclear; and, Optimistic nature.
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The Pursuers of a Simple Life |
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A desire for a simpler way of life, in harmony with nature; Preference to work for the environment on an individual level; Not fiting in with members of society; Expressing self in a particular artistic form; Recognizing power of self and of institutions; and, Pessimism but with some hope.
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The Socially Responsible
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A duty to help the environment, acting as stewards for it; Feeling like adults and are treated as such; Accepting current system with the authority of institutions and adults; Working with the system to seek change within it; Challenging others on a personal level; Rationally viewing situations, weighing alternatives and compromising; and, Optimism about the future and environment, although seeing difficulties ahead.
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The Spiritualist |
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Devotion to the protection of the environment, the environment is sacred; A strong compassion and passion for others; Wisdom ahead of their years; Ultimate power is within and from this collective power is realized; Youth are a disenfranchised group in society; Fundamental changes are sought with alternatives to current modes of operation; Environment not to be compromised; and, Pessimism towards future of the environment but efforts must still be made.
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The Sacrificialist
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Valueing non-humans over humans; Feeling of the devaluation of young people by rest of society; Anger over legacy of environmental destruction left from past generations; Feeling of powerlessness, although power of the people is judged strongest; Seeking major changes but see fruitlessness of situation and hence compromise position; Frustration with pace of change, disillusioned with society; and, Pessimistic outlook.
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The Peaceful Revolutionary |
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Environment is one important component of human social justice priority; Experiences of discrimination; Following vision of future; Confronting others and politicizing issues; Power of the people is the strongest when individual power is pooled together; Fighting social control of people by others in society and by institutions; and, Guarded optimism of future with struggles to overcome. |
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Excerpt from : A study of Australian and Canadian young environmentalists and decision-makers E.W. van der Veen, Department of Social Sciences Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Melbourne, Victoria, Australia December 5th, 1994
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