MSc Societal and Environmental Psychology

This programme, formerly called Psychology of Economic Life, explores the psychological dimensions of societal, environmental and economic behaviour.

You’ll examine traditional theories and cutting-edge research in the psychological, behavioural and social sciences with a focus on and application to sustainability. You'll explore topics such as sustainable consumer behaviour, transformative social change, and powerful techniques for changing behaviour through design, education and regulation. You'll learn how to present and promote your projects to decision-making bodies. We encourage you to think beyond conventional economic theories and understand how to apply psychological knowledge to make business models and organisations more sustainable, and to foster a better societal environment. At every stage, you’ll integrate theory with practice, looking at how your new skills can help solve real-world issues. Assessment is based on real-world cases chosen by students. Read some of their coursework to see what skills they’re learning: we are proud to publish *all* their collective essays.

This degree draws inspiration from a wide range of social science disciplines, offering a much broader scope than many conventional psychology programmes. Our students undertake research in a wide range of areas, and the degree equips them with the skills and expertise to pursue careers in industry, government and consultancy, or to pursue doctoral studies.

Our department was recently ranked first in the UK for psychology (Complete University Guide 2025). So, you’ll be studying at a top-rated university.

• Basso, F., & Herrmann-Pillath, C. (2024). Embodiment, Political Economy and Human Flourishing: An Embodied Cognition Approach to Economic Life. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Basso, F., & Krpan, D. (2023). The WISER framework of behavioural change interventions for mindful human flourishing. The Lancet Planetary Health, 7(2), e106-e108.
• Diamond, J. (2005). Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Penguin Books.
• Howarth, C., Campbell, C., Cornish, F., Franks, B., Garcia-Lorenzo, L., Gillespie, A., Gleibs, I., Gonvales-Portelinha, I., Jovchelovitch, S., Lahlou, S., Mannell, J., Reader, T, & Tennant, C. (2013). Insights from societal psychology: The contextual politics of change. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 1(1), 364-384.
• Himmelweit, H. T. & Gaskell G. (1990). Societal Psychology. Sage Publications.
• Lahlou, S. (2017) Installation Theory. The Societal Construction and Regulation of Individual Behaviour. Cambridge University Press.
• Lahlou, S. (2024). Why People Do what They Do. And How to Make Them Change. Polity.
• Linnér, B. O., & Wibeck, V. (2019). Sustainability Transformations: Agents and Drivers Across Societies. Cambridge University Press.
• Uexküll, J. von. (2010). A Foray into the Worlds of Animals and Humans. With a Theory of Meaning. University of Minnesota Press.