Based on over 20 years of theory and research in human judgment, decision making and social psychology, this unique book brings together for the first time what ...

A problem is a difference between what a person has and wants. A solution is anything that reduces the difference. These two simple definitions form the foundation of an ecological perspective on the often-complex, reciprocal relationships among people, their environments and their behaviours—a perspective that mixes causal ideas from psychology with consequential ideas from economics. The present article offers a brief introduction to this perspective and suggests how it might be instantiated by naturalistic observations and content analyses of narratives.

The present essay describes how one small, rural, Canadian town relied on its community sprit to support locals affected by the current pandemic. Such spirit might increasingly attract people, now working from home in large cities, who seek a sense of community beyond what work offers. The attraction could bring new life to small towns.