Enculturated Captivity by Vaughan Wilkins

Описание: Numinous Earth: Ecopsychology at the Edge
Conference at California Institute of Integral Studies
East-West Psychology Department
April 17-18, 2025

Enculturated Captivity
by Vaughan Wilkins

Is the way we are living making us sick? By adopting trans-species psychology as a hermeneutic lens, and exploring the symptoms of the loss of ecological participation, this study traces the collective pathology of modern techno-industrial society, first identified by ecopsychology’s first wave, across both human and nonhuman animals. What emerges is enculturated captivity—a collective and culturally transmitted form of developmental trauma that functions as an invisible cage. These findings hold significant implications for ecotherapeutic and educational initiatives. As ecopsychology continues through its third wave, how might we move beyond palliative approaches, and design experiences that are truly liberatory? By integrating ecopsychological insights into education, therapy, and leadership programs, we can create systems that foster ecological belonging, psychological resilience, and the restoration of relational agency between humans and the more-than-human world.

Bio
Dr. Vaughan Wilkins is an applied ecopsychologist and learning designer dedicated to helping human and nonhuman animals connect
with themselves, each other, and the more-than-human world. Over the last decade, he has designed transformative learning
experiences for wilderness programs, public schools, coaches, therapists, dog trainers, and hospital staff. He holds a PhD in East-West
Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and an MA in the Psychology of Animal Behavior from Hunter College.
Vaughan continues to offer talks, workshops, and coaching to foster regenerative engagement with the natural world and support
others in developing and sharing their own ecotherapy practices.