Socioecological diversity and inclusion: a framework for advancing diversity science

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Environmental Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Group processes research has long recognized environmental influences.
• Understanding diversity and inclusion is crucial for effective group functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize recent research on the social ecology of diversity and inclusion.
• To propose a socioecological framework for analyzing environmental impacts on groups.

Main Methods:

• Literature synthesis of existing research on diversity, inclusion, and environmental psychology.
• Development of a socioecological model incorporating environmental factors.

Main Results:

• Socioecological diversity concerns the distribution of social groups within environments (composition, representation, segregation).
• Socioecological inclusion involves environmental cues signaling group belonging or exclusion (physical, political, social).

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework offers a novel lens to examine how environmental contexts shape intragroup and intergroup dynamics.
• This approach integrates environmental influences into the study of diversity and inclusion in groups.