NSF Org:	SES Divn Of Social and Economic Sciences
Awardee:
Initial Amendment Date:	September 17, 1999
Latest Amendment Date:	June 26, 2001
Award Number:	9981762
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Robert O'Connor SES  Divn Of Social and Economic Sciences SBE  Direct For Social, Behav & Economic Scie
Start Date:	September 1, 1999
End Date:	August 31, 2003 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$164,875.00
Funds Obligated to Date:
History of Investigator:	Scott Atran (Principal Investigator) satran@umich.edu
Awardee Sponsored Research Office:	Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor 3003 South State St. Room 1062 Ann Arbor MI  US  48109-1274 (734)763-6438
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Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	Decision, Risk & Mgmt Sci, ENVIR SOCIAL & BEHAVIOR SCIENC
Primary Program Source:
Program Reference Code(s):	1094, 1239, 1321, 1369, 9178, 9251, 9278, EGCH, SMET
Program Element Code(s):	1321, 5209
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ABSTRACT

The research analyzes the interaction of knowledge, behaviors and values in environmental decision making. Data are collected from two sites where Native American and majority culture populations share a habitat but conflict over resource use: the Wolf River area of Wisconsin and the Lowland Maya forest region of Guatemala. Studies integrate formal modeling techniques from psychology, anthropology and sociology to show that: (1) people share cultural models of the environment to a surprisingly detailed degree; (2) these mental models inform and predict actual behaviors, with measurable ecological consequences; and (3) individual and cultural differences in models are motivated by different patterns of resource valuation. Research findings are expected to establish: (4) a first approximation of ecological cognition across cultures, (5) a cognitive dimension to stimulate new research on how people decide to manage common resources; and (6) a comprehensive basis for conflict-resolution negotiation that involves understanding the relations between environmental cognitions, behaviors and values.

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