Water on the mind: Mapping behavioral and psychological research on water security

Abstract

Water security as a concept recognizes the profound connections between the physical and social aspects of water. Yet, water security research features limited perspectives from two disciplines directly concerned with human behavior—the behavioral and psychological sciences. This review aims to characterize the main areas of research on water (including floods and droughts) which do feature concepts and methods from the behavioral and psychological sciences, discuss knowledge gaps, and draw attention to their potential to contribute to water-related research. Bibliometric mapping of published water research identifies five research clusters and associated sub-clusters: risk perception and flood, climate change and drought, water quality and water conservation, drinking water and bottled water, and mental health and WASH. A summary of research in each cluster and sub-cluster highlights the application of many conceptual frameworks and behavioral determinants associated with water-related behavior. Few articles focus on the role of governance or structural factors, and studies in low- and middle-income countries are less represented in some clusters. The discussion considers the scope to apply higher level organizing frameworks for structuring behavioral and psychological science applications in water security and for exploring synergies with the physical and wider social sciences. In conclusion, further engagement with behavioral and psychological science within, between, and beyond the clusters identified here, could potentially deepen understanding of human–water interactions and enhance the design of measures to promote water security. This article is categorized under: Human Water > Water Governance Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change.