Human Behavior and Adaptation

The coupled nature of FEW systems means the human and natural systems are linked such that human behavior impacts natural processes, and the outcomes of these natural processes influence human behavior. Effectively managing FEW systems requires understanding how humans behave and interact with their natural and social environments, as well as understanding the environmental impacts of social changes (e.g., population growth and urbanization). We discuss the importance of including more sophisticated models of human behavior in the study of FEW systems and provide examples of how past research has incorporated complexity in human behavior into models of these systems. We do so from the perspectives of psychology, economics, and decision science—all social sciences with well-developed theories and models of human behavior that are useful in informing models and policies. We present two case studies as examples of how research can explicitly account for human behavior in these systems. Finally, we discuss challenges in incorporating human behavior and adaptation into models of these systems and identify future directions for work in this field.