Bonding with Earth: Hyperbole, Metaphor, or Fanciful Teleology?

Authors

George ConesaFollow

Abstract

At a mere glance, the notion that humans could (should strive for?) bond emotionally with an entire planet, Earth, sounds hyperbolic at best and psychologically unsound at worst. For although humans might be motivated to act in ways that pass for “bonding,” perhaps assisted by intentions and sentiments to care for a whole planet, the question remains: Which notion of Earth are they really investing all their emotions in? Important to psychologists would be to inquire whether incomplete, idealized, oversimplified, or fantastic notions of “Earth,” or bonding, turn out to be transference-love-like, platonic, overidealized forms of affect, which seldom develop into mature person- environment or person-to-person relations.

Recommended Citation

Conesa, George (2025) "Bonding with Earth: Hyperbole, Metaphor, or Fanciful Teleology?," The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE): Vol. 11: Iss. 1, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55671/2767-1380.1137
Available at: https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ije/vol11/iss1/6