Slow wins: Patience, perseverance and behavior change.

Abstract

It is easy to despair at the unsustainability of human behavior; however, such despair may come from taking too narrow and pessimistic a view of human nature. Behavior change does happen but durable change happens only slowly. What is unnerving is that our environmental problems are urgent, perhaps accelerating. This might give rise to intolerance for the slow-change notion suggested in this article. But, in fact, the opposite response is needed from us. The transition we face must be done well the first time with the changes made durable; it is unlikely we will get a second chance.