Deborah Du Nann Winter

Peace Psychology for a Peaceful World

Although the literature in peace psychology has been growing rapidly, many American psychologists are unaware of how conflict is resolved and peace is conceptualized and achieved. This article reviews the long history and broadening scope of peace psychology and introduces a model of peace that is useful for organizing the literature. The model suggests that peace can be facilitated at four different points of intervention. The authors discuss relationships between positive and negative peace, structural and direct violence, and peacekeeping, peacemaking, and peacebuilding. They advance some challenges for peace psychologists and conclude that peace psychology is a crucial field for grappling with humanitys most pressing problems in the coming decades.

Earthly Dimensions of Peace: The Earth Charter

Cultures of peace will not be possible without a concerted effort to bring about global environmental security. Attempts to build sustainable cultures through international treaties have been disappointing. Nongovernmental groups have a better track record for promoting sustainable cultures. This article describes the psychological potential of the Earth Charter, a document written primarily by and for nongovernment organizations and world citizens, for soliciting committed environmental action from people throughout the world. After analyzing key features of the Charter, we discuss empirical support for its premise that moral responsibility leads to improved environmental behaviors. We conclude that peace psychologists have important roles to play in educating and promoting environmentally responsible behaviors throughout the world.