The Ethics of Preservation: Where Psychology and Conservation Collide

Abstract

Traditional conservation campaigns often rely on “marquee” animals to which humans are viscerally attracted for psychological reasons. These campaigns eventually create donor fatigue through repetition—and are unable to raise awareness and funding for equally important but less anthropomorphically attractive species. Conservation advocates can overcome these shortcomings by relying on psychologically compelling alternatives to anthropomorphic attraction: sophistication of perception, humor, and the human ability to redefine our environment.