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Dr. Scott Cloutier
School of Sustainability, College of Global Futures, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, AZ, USA

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Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Community Development
0 Sustainable and regenerative development
0 Happiness and well-being
0 Spiritual and intuitive development
0 Neighborhood revitalization

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Community Development
Happiness and well-being

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Journal article
Published: 10 December 2020 in Sustainability
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Sustainability science has focused predominantly on external/technological solutions to environmental degradation while giving insufficient attention to the role of spiritual well-being for holistic sustainability. While it is important for students to learn about solutions in a time where environmental problems have been identified as prevalent, that alone is not enough. We propose that sustainability may start as a deep individual internal process manifested as a change of values stemming from enhanced spiritual well-being. The current study examined whether a novel sustainability classroom curriculum, including contemplative practices (CPs), increased traits indicative of spiritual development and well-being and happiness, which are theorized to increase sustainable behavior (SB). Students attended a 15-week university course promoting SB through CPs in a space intended to be safe and supportive. Participants were compared to unenrolled peers and completed pre- and post-intervention quantitative measures of (1) happiness, (2) self-compassion, and (3) SB, and qualitative questions investigating spiritual development and well-being. Multivariate and univariate follow-up analyses indicated that course participation increased student self-compassion and happiness, while SB was unaffected. Qualitative reports indicated that CPs led students to develop spiritual traits, a systems’ thinking mentality and an awareness of their interconnectedness. Students, also, assigned greater importance to spiritual well-being as a prerequisite for SB.

ACS Style

Erica Berejnoi; David Messer; Scott Cloutier. Cultivating Spiritual Well-Being for Sustainability: A Pilot Study. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10342 .

AMA Style

Erica Berejnoi, David Messer, Scott Cloutier. Cultivating Spiritual Well-Being for Sustainability: A Pilot Study. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (24):10342.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Erica Berejnoi; David Messer; Scott Cloutier. 2020. "Cultivating Spiritual Well-Being for Sustainability: A Pilot Study." Sustainability 12, no. 24: 10342.

Journal article
Published: 15 November 2020 in Sustainability
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Although most people want to be happy, the pursuit of happiness involves an overwhelming number of choices and great uncertainty about the consequences. Many of these choices have significant implications for sustainability, which are rarely considered. Here, we present an optimality model that maximizes subjective happiness, which can eventually account for sustainability outcomes. Our model identifies the optimal use of time or energy to maximize happiness. Such models tell people how to invest in domains of happiness (e.g., work vs. leisure) and how to choose activities within domains (e.g., playing a computer game vs. playing a board game). We illustrate this optimization approach with data from an online survey, in which people (n = 87) either recalled or imagined their happiness during common activities. People reported decelerating happiness over time, but the rate of deceleration differed among activities. On average, people imagined spending more time on each activity than would be needed to maximize happiness, suggesting that an optimality model has value for guiding decisions. We then discuss how such models can address sustainability challenges associated with overinvesting (e.g., excessive CO2 emissions). To optimize happiness and explore its implications for sustainability over long periods, models can incorporate psychological processes that alter the potential for happiness and demographic processes that make lifespan uncertain. In cases where less objective approaches have failed, a quantitative theory may improve opportunities for happiness, while meeting sustainability outcomes.

ACS Style

Scott Cloutier; Michael Angilletta; Jean-Denis Mathias; Nuri Onat. Informing the Sustainable Pursuit of Happiness. Sustainability 2020, 12, 9491 .

AMA Style

Scott Cloutier, Michael Angilletta, Jean-Denis Mathias, Nuri Onat. Informing the Sustainable Pursuit of Happiness. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (22):9491.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Scott Cloutier; Michael Angilletta; Jean-Denis Mathias; Nuri Onat. 2020. "Informing the Sustainable Pursuit of Happiness." Sustainability 12, no. 22: 9491.

Journal article
Published: 28 September 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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The withdrawal of homesteads is an effective way to improve the efficiency of rural construction land use and is being piloted in many regions of China, but the mechanism influencing farmers’ satisfaction with the withdrawal policy is unclear. This paper aimed to investigate the relationships among farmers’ economic status (ES), policy expectation (PE), policy perceived value (PPV), and farmers’ satisfaction with homestead withdrawal policy (policy satisfaction; PS). The study examined the mediating effects of PE and PPV on the relationship between ES and PS. The data obtained from a questionnaire of 287 households in Jinhu County, Jiangsu Province, China. After surviving from reliability and validity tests, a structural equation modeling (SEM) with latent variables was specified and estimated using Mplus. From the study results, we found significant positive relationships between ES, PP, and PS, but significant negative relationships between ES, PE, PPV, and PS. Also, our research found PE and PPV as potential mediators on ES-PS relation. We propose recommendations from three aspects to improve farmers’ satisfaction with future implementations of the homestead withdrawal policy. Our results provided new insights into how to improve the performance of homestead withdrawal policy.

ACS Style

Yaoyang Zhao; Scott Cloutier; Hongqing Li. Farmers’ Economic Status and Satisfaction with Homestead Withdrawal Policy: Expectation and Perceived Value. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 7110 .

AMA Style

Yaoyang Zhao, Scott Cloutier, Hongqing Li. Farmers’ Economic Status and Satisfaction with Homestead Withdrawal Policy: Expectation and Perceived Value. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (19):7110.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yaoyang Zhao; Scott Cloutier; Hongqing Li. 2020. "Farmers’ Economic Status and Satisfaction with Homestead Withdrawal Policy: Expectation and Perceived Value." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 19: 7110.

Journal article
Published: 13 September 2019 in Ecological Indicators
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Ecological indicators are foundational for holistic guidance toward thriving living systems, yet existing indicators are incomplete, fragmented, and do not fully integrate living systems principles. We suggest that thriving living systems (i.e., social-ecological or complex adaptive systems) can and should be the aim of sustainability and sustainable development. Thriving living systems, also called regenerative living systems, are those in which complexity, diversity, capacity to support all life, and the potential to change to provide future options increases. Holistic ecological and sustainability indicators and evaluation tools are needed. The emerging field of regenerative development (RD) offers theoretical and practical guidance for such indicators and tools. We integrate complex adaptive systems science, ecology, sustainability, and regenerative development to construct and pilot the first iteration of a holistic sustainable development evaluation tool—the Regenerative Development Evaluation Tool—in two river restoration projects. The tool identifies RD Principles and Core Characteristics of Regenerative Living Systems that provide general guidance for thinking and decision-making. From these general indicators, place-based quantitative and qualitative indicators are constructed through a co-creative community process. Our case studies reveal factors correlated with degrees of engagement with RD and potential place-based indicators for each project. We recommend continuing the development and expansion of the RD Evaluation Tool, adding RD indicators and strategies. We also recommend developing an RD process tool that can work explicitly across scales, integrating the neighborhood, city, landscape, and regional scales since they are pivotal for sustainability efforts and manifesting thriving living systems. Finally, we recommended integrated research and practice to test and adapt RD tools and processes.

ACS Style

Leah V. Gibbons; Genevieve Pearthree; Scott A. Cloutier; Meagan M. Ehlenz. The development, application, and refinement of a Regenerative Development Evaluation Tool and indicators. Ecological Indicators 2019, 108, 105698 .

AMA Style

Leah V. Gibbons, Genevieve Pearthree, Scott A. Cloutier, Meagan M. Ehlenz. The development, application, and refinement of a Regenerative Development Evaluation Tool and indicators. Ecological Indicators. 2019; 108 ():105698.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Leah V. Gibbons; Genevieve Pearthree; Scott A. Cloutier; Meagan M. Ehlenz. 2019. "The development, application, and refinement of a Regenerative Development Evaluation Tool and indicators." Ecological Indicators 108, no. : 105698.

Perspective article
Published: 08 August 2019 in International Journal of Community Well-Being
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Studies of community wellbeing have identified numerous contributing social, economic, environmental, and cultural factors. Yet despite this diversity of dimensions, in practice many community wellbeing interventions focus on providing material resources, infrastructure, and amenities. In this perspective article, we offer an alternative approach to community wellbeing practice, drawing on several years of applied community development research and practice, formulated as principles of purpose, place, and relation. Together, these principles foster greater connectivity and resilience, support the creation of safe, dignified, and collective places and spaces, and encourage reciprocal and empathetic relations amongst people and across generations. Research and practice using these principles emphasizes being and interacting in community. Our approach is rooted in the perspective that community wellbeing could benefit not only from improved resources and infrastructure, but also from processes that promote humans willing to build and connect with community.

ACS Style

Scott Cloutier; Meagan M. Ehlenz; Robin Afinowich. Cultivating Community Wellbeing: Guiding Principles for Research and Practice. International Journal of Community Well-Being 2019, 2, 277 -299.

AMA Style

Scott Cloutier, Meagan M. Ehlenz, Robin Afinowich. Cultivating Community Wellbeing: Guiding Principles for Research and Practice. International Journal of Community Well-Being. 2019; 2 (3-4):277-299.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Scott Cloutier; Meagan M. Ehlenz; Robin Afinowich. 2019. "Cultivating Community Wellbeing: Guiding Principles for Research and Practice." International Journal of Community Well-Being 2, no. 3-4: 277-299.

Journal article
Published: 07 June 2018 in Sustainability
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Although the integration of sustainability, ecology, and design has been recognized as necessary by scientists and practitioners, most transdisciplinary frameworks are not inclusive of the worldviews, paradigms, aims, processes, and components necessary for sustainability. Landscape sustainability science helps to focus scientist, scholar, practitioner, and stakeholder efforts toward sustainability at a pivotal level; however, collaboration and progress have been slow. Significant potential exists for design to be an integrative and transformational methodology toward landscape sustainability, yet it has not fulfilled this ambitious role. In this paper, we first build a case for regenerative development, a development and design methodology based on an ecological worldview, as an integrative platform for a new paradigm. This new paradigm, which we call regenerative landscape development, has the potential to thoroughly catalyze a shift toward regenerative sustainability. We then detail this new paradigm as a process that could continually enhance the capacities of living systems to increase health, well-being, and happiness. Next, to illustrate regenerative development in practice, we provide brief case studies of projects in Viña del Mar, Chile and Juluchuca, Guerrero, Mexico. Finally, we propose future recommendations and precautions in the construction of regenerative landscape development as a new paradigm. If fully understood, embraced, and realized, regenerative development holds incredible potential for a sustainable future.

ACS Style

Leah V. Gibbons; Scott A. Cloutier; Paul J. Coseo; Ahmed Barakat. Regenerative Development as an Integrative Paradigm and Methodology for Landscape Sustainability. Sustainability 2018, 10, 1910 .

AMA Style

Leah V. Gibbons, Scott A. Cloutier, Paul J. Coseo, Ahmed Barakat. Regenerative Development as an Integrative Paradigm and Methodology for Landscape Sustainability. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (6):1910.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Leah V. Gibbons; Scott A. Cloutier; Paul J. Coseo; Ahmed Barakat. 2018. "Regenerative Development as an Integrative Paradigm and Methodology for Landscape Sustainability." Sustainability 10, no. 6: 1910.

Journal article
Published: 12 December 2017 in Sustainability
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This study assesses whether multifunctional edible landscaping business models provide a sufficient business case at enterprise and city scales to justify widespread implementation. First, semi-structured interviews were conducted with four landscaping entrepreneurs, and the information obtained from the interviews was utilized to carry out a business model comparison with the Business Model Canvas framework. The comparison showed that the landscaping enterprises using multifunctional edible landscaping methods possessed a greater range of value propositions and revenue streams, enhancing their competitive advantage. Second, a GIS landscape analysis of seven Phoenix metro area cities was carried out to identify landscapes that were suited for becoming multifunctional edible landscapes. The GIS analysis identified single family residential, residential recreational open space, municipal parks, and municipal schools as being suitable landscapes, and that the area of these landscapes in the seven cities exceeded 180,000 acres. Third, scenarios were created using interview and GIS data to estimate potential value creation and return on investment of implementing multifunctional edible landscaping in the cities of interest. The scenarios found that the potential value creation of edible landscaping ranged between $3.9 and $66 billion, and that positive return on investment (ROI) could be achieved in 11 out of 12 scenarios within one to five years. Finally, the paper concludes by discussing potential long-term implications of implementing multifunctional edible urban landscaping, as well as possible future directions for multifunctional landscaping business model development and research.

ACS Style

Christopher Robinson; Scott Cloutier; Hallie Eakin. Examining the Business Case and Models for Sustainable Multifunctional Edible Landscaping Enterprises in the Phoenix Metro Area. Sustainability 2017, 9, 2307 .

AMA Style

Christopher Robinson, Scott Cloutier, Hallie Eakin. Examining the Business Case and Models for Sustainable Multifunctional Edible Landscaping Enterprises in the Phoenix Metro Area. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (12):2307.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Christopher Robinson; Scott Cloutier; Hallie Eakin. 2017. "Examining the Business Case and Models for Sustainable Multifunctional Edible Landscaping Enterprises in the Phoenix Metro Area." Sustainability 9, no. 12: 2307.

Journal article
Published: 13 July 2017 in Sustainability
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The ways in which we travel—by what mode, for how long, and for what purpose—can affect our sense of happiness and well-being. This paper assesses the relationships between measures of the sustainability of transportation systems in U.S. metropolitan areas and subjective well-being. Associations between self-reported happiness levels from the Gallup Healthways Well-being Index and commute data were examined for 187 core-based statistical areas (CBSA). We also supplement this quantitative analysis through brief case studies of high- and low-performing happiness cities. Our quantitative results indicate that regions with higher commute mode shares by non-automobile modes generally had higher well-being scores, even when controlling for important economic predictors of happiness. We also find that pro-sustainable transportation policies can have implications for population-wide happiness and well-being. Our case studies indicate that both high and low scoring happiness cities demonstrate a dedicated commitment to improving sustainable transportation infrastructure. Our study suggests that cities that provide incentives for residents to use more sustainable commute modes may offer greater opportunity for happiness than those that do not.

ACS Style

Scott Cloutier; Alex Karner; Hanna L. Breetz; Parinaz Toufani; Nuri Onat; Sambhram Patel; Siddhanth Paralkar; Erica Berejnoi; Beth Ann Morrison; Jason Papenfuss; A. Davieau Briggs; Cynthia Carlson. Measures of a Sustainable Commute as a Predictor of Happiness. Sustainability 2017, 9, 1214 .

AMA Style

Scott Cloutier, Alex Karner, Hanna L. Breetz, Parinaz Toufani, Nuri Onat, Sambhram Patel, Siddhanth Paralkar, Erica Berejnoi, Beth Ann Morrison, Jason Papenfuss, A. Davieau Briggs, Cynthia Carlson. Measures of a Sustainable Commute as a Predictor of Happiness. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (7):1214.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Scott Cloutier; Alex Karner; Hanna L. Breetz; Parinaz Toufani; Nuri Onat; Sambhram Patel; Siddhanth Paralkar; Erica Berejnoi; Beth Ann Morrison; Jason Papenfuss; A. Davieau Briggs; Cynthia Carlson. 2017. "Measures of a Sustainable Commute as a Predictor of Happiness." Sustainability 9, no. 7: 1214.

Chapter
Published: 16 June 2017 in Community Quality-of-Life and Well-Being
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Since the Long Walks of the 1860s Navajo people have wrestled with the problems of acculturation and assimilation, while simultaneously trying to preserve their spiritual and cultural foundations. Though history has negatively affected Navajo wellbeing (happiness), sustainable Navajo principles and practices act as a positive counterweight. Aspiring to build the most socially and environmentally sustainable chapter house possible, the Navajo Nation’s Tonalea Chapter approached our research team for insight and advice on replacement of their existing chapter house. Two visioning sessions were held, with an ASU team facilitating a wide ranging discussion of project context and history as well as some cultural background. During two roundtable discussion with Chapter elders and members, the team began creating a vision that embodies physical, functional and environmental conditions, as well as cultural and spiritual beliefs and values. Initially, Houde’s (2007) Six Faces of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) were used to sort commentary. Analysis and review led to expanding the framework from six to eight traditional ecological knowledge categories (TEK8): Culture, Spirituality, Ecosystem, Time, Land, Design, Social Justice and Equity, and Economics. Sorted narratives and discussions revealed traditional ways of life, beliefs, and values as popular topics, along with suggestions about whom to design for, and what functions are most needed. Based on the TEK8 categorized comments, design recommendations were offered. Additional work is needed, but a strong foundation for a framework mapping TEK to sustainable design for indigenous people has been developed. By using the TEK8 to address social justices issues through participatory visioning, culturally appropriate design and broader opportunities for happiness may result.

ACS Style

Paul J. Prosser; Scott Cloutier. Chapter House: A Vision for a Sustainable Future. Community Quality-of-Life and Well-Being 2017, 179 -214.

AMA Style

Paul J. Prosser, Scott Cloutier. Chapter House: A Vision for a Sustainable Future. Community Quality-of-Life and Well-Being. 2017; ():179-214.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paul J. Prosser; Scott Cloutier. 2017. "Chapter House: A Vision for a Sustainable Future." Community Quality-of-Life and Well-Being , no. : 179-214.

Review
Published: 29 April 2017 in Sustainability
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Tracking the environmental impacts of production, use, and disposal of products (e.g., goods, and services) have been an important issue in the global economy. Although Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a widely applied method to track these environmental impacts and support policies, it has certain limitations and an isolated way of evaluating the environmental impacts with no consideration of social and economic impacts and mechanisms. To overcome the limits of current LCA, three mechanisms have been proposed in the literature: (1) broadening the indicators by including social and economic indicators in addition to the environmental impacts; (2) broadening the scope of analysis from product-level assessment to national and global levels; (3) deepening the assessment by inclusion of more mechanisms to account for interrelations among the system elements, uncertainty analysis, stakeholder involvement, etc. With these developments, LCA has been evolving into a new framework called Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). Practical application of LCSA requires integration of various methods, tools, and disciplines. In this study, a comprehensive literature review is conducted to investigate recent developments, current challenges, and future perspectives in the LCSA literature. According to the review, a high number (40%) of LCSA studies are from the environmental science discipline, while contributions from other disciplines such as economics (3%) and social sciences (9%) are very low. On broadening the scope of analysis, 58% of the studies are product-level works, while 37% quantified the impacts at national level and achieved an economy-wide analysis, and only 5% of the studies were able to quantify the global impacts of products using LCSA framework. Furthermore, current applications of LCSA have not considered the rebound effects, feedback mechanisms, and interrelations of the system of interest sufficiently. To address these challenges, we present a complete discussion about the overarching role of systems thinking to bring tools, methods and disciplines together, and provide practical examples from the earlier studies that have employed various system-based methods. We discuss the importance of integrated system-based methods for advancement of LCSA framework in the following directions: (1) regional and global level LCSA models using multi-region input-output analysis that is capable of quantitatively capturing macro-level social, environmental, and economic impacts; (2) dealing with uncertainties in LCSA during multi-criteria decision-making process and expert judgments in weighting of LCSA indicators; and (3) integration of system dynamics modeling to reveal complex interconnections, dependencies, and causal relationships between sustainability indicators.

ACS Style

Nuri Cihat Onat; Murat Kucukvar; Anthony Halog; Scott Cloutier. Systems Thinking for Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment: A Review of Recent Developments, Applications, and Future Perspectives. Sustainability 2017, 9, 706 .

AMA Style

Nuri Cihat Onat, Murat Kucukvar, Anthony Halog, Scott Cloutier. Systems Thinking for Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment: A Review of Recent Developments, Applications, and Future Perspectives. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (5):706.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nuri Cihat Onat; Murat Kucukvar; Anthony Halog; Scott Cloutier. 2017. "Systems Thinking for Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment: A Review of Recent Developments, Applications, and Future Perspectives." Sustainability 9, no. 5: 706.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2017 in Ecological Indicators
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The relationship between sustainability and happiness is an intriguing and growing research area (Cloutier et al., 2013; Montgomery, 2013; Florida et al., 2013; Leyden et al., 2011). However, a review of primary literature and research indicates a missing gap in neighborhood level assessments of sustainability and happiness. The Sustainable Neighborhoods for Happiness Index (SNHI) was developed using city level data and studies (Cloutier et al., 2014), but was created with the intent of serving as a neighborhood measure. Within this paper, we detail the development of the Sustainable Neighborhoods for Happiness (SNfH) Decision Tool – a neighborhood level assessment tool, derived from the SNHI, to assist in decisions around future strategies for sustainable community development. While several sustainability decision tools exist, there is a need for those that are easily understood and accessible to neighborhood stakeholders (e.g., residents, community leaders, city employees). The SNfH Decision Tool was created with a user-friendly graphical front-end and embedded back-end calculations to inform users. The goal is to help neighborhood stakeholders identify the needs of their community to swiftly take action to alleviate issues and promote a sustainable and happy future.

ACS Style

Siddhanth Paralkar; Scott Cloutier; Snigdha Nautiyal; Ramanuj Mitra. The sustainable neighborhoods for happiness (SNfH) decision tool: Assessing neighborhood level sustainability and happiness. Ecological Indicators 2017, 74, 10 -18.

AMA Style

Siddhanth Paralkar, Scott Cloutier, Snigdha Nautiyal, Ramanuj Mitra. The sustainable neighborhoods for happiness (SNfH) decision tool: Assessing neighborhood level sustainability and happiness. Ecological Indicators. 2017; 74 ():10-18.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Siddhanth Paralkar; Scott Cloutier; Snigdha Nautiyal; Ramanuj Mitra. 2017. "The sustainable neighborhoods for happiness (SNfH) decision tool: Assessing neighborhood level sustainability and happiness." Ecological Indicators 74, no. : 10-18.

Book chapter
Published: 13 December 2016 in Handbook of Community Well-Being Research
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Happiness is often reduced to an individual characteristic, solely the responsibility of its owner. However, happiness also is a community characteristic that is influenced by and helps to shape conditions external to the individual. This chapter explores the interdependence of individual happiness, community well-being, and sustainability and argues for individual happiness as an alternative objective for sustainable community development. First, a review of the strengths and limitations of mainstream community development frameworks is performed. Individual happiness is then presented as a missing link between sustainable community development and community well-being. We introduce the Sustainability Through Happiness Framework (STHF) as a conceptual path for sustainable community development. Finally, the chapter concludes by considering the contributions and challenges of a framework focused on individual happiness.

ACS Style

Scott Cloutier; Deirdre Pfeiffer. Happiness: An Alternative Objective for Sustainable Community Development. Handbook of Community Well-Being Research 2016, 85 -96.

AMA Style

Scott Cloutier, Deirdre Pfeiffer. Happiness: An Alternative Objective for Sustainable Community Development. Handbook of Community Well-Being Research. 2016; ():85-96.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Scott Cloutier; Deirdre Pfeiffer. 2016. "Happiness: An Alternative Objective for Sustainable Community Development." Handbook of Community Well-Being Research , no. : 85-96.

Review essay
Published: 04 May 2016 in Journal of the American Planning Association
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Problem, research strategy, and findings: There is increasing interest in planning for healthy communities, but little is known about how planners can affect mental health and wellbeing in neighborhoods, although much is known about how planners can affect physical health through neighborhood design. In this review essay, we draw lessons from a cross-disciplinary set of studies to reveal how the neighborhood built environment may affect one aspect of residents' wellbeing: happiness. Providing residents access to open, natural, and green space may directly increase their happiness. Incorporating design features that allow for social interaction and safety also may promote residents' happiness. Takeaway for practice: Planners have the capacity to contribute to greater opportunities for happiness in neighborhoods. Strategies include integrating happiness-related indicators into health impact assessments and employing a new, participatory neighborhood planning process, the Sustainability Through Happiness Framework.

ACS Style

Deirdre Pfeiffer; Scott Cloutier. Planning for Happy Neighborhoods. Journal of the American Planning Association 2016, 82, 267 -279.

AMA Style

Deirdre Pfeiffer, Scott Cloutier. Planning for Happy Neighborhoods. Journal of the American Planning Association. 2016; 82 (3):267-279.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Deirdre Pfeiffer; Scott Cloutier. 2016. "Planning for Happy Neighborhoods." Journal of the American Planning Association 82, no. 3: 267-279.

Journal article
Published: 22 June 2015 in Sustainable Development
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Happiness is commonly thought of as an individual characteristic for which each person is solely responsible. However, happiness is also a community characteristic influenced by factors external to the individual. This article offers an alternative sustainable community development framework that focuses on improved opportunities for happiness. Key components of the framework include happiness visioning, public participation, a happiness profit inventory, and systems planning and sustainability interventions. Lessons learned from applying this framework to a neighborhood in a fast‐growing region in the southwestern United States are drawn. Ultimately, happiness offers a universal measure focused on the quality of human life and a community development framework that may translate to a sustainable future. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

ACS Style

Scott Cloutier; Deirdre Pfeiffer. Sustainability Through Happiness: A Framework for Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development 2015, 23, 317 -327.

AMA Style

Scott Cloutier, Deirdre Pfeiffer. Sustainability Through Happiness: A Framework for Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development. 2015; 23 (5):317-327.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Scott Cloutier; Deirdre Pfeiffer. 2015. "Sustainability Through Happiness: A Framework for Sustainable Development." Sustainable Development 23, no. 5: 317-327.