This theoretical paper examines ecopsychological principles as defined by Lori Pye (2025 forthcoming) to explore underlying narrative and psychoneurophysiological reasons for the massive and ongoing ecocide of the Anthropocene. This paper also calls for societal change, providing specific recommendations based on the multidisciplinary knowledge reviewed. Contrary to widely circulating cultural narratives, we humans are completely dependent on Earth’s biogeochemical cycles, neither superior to other life nor specially entitled to destroy it. Yet, ecological destruction continues to accelerate. Such ongoing ecocide is illogical, highly traumatizing to all life on Earth and contrary to our inherent love for nature. Framing the problem with Pye’s Five Ecopsychological Principles provides an excellent lens for detecting ecocidal narratives and practices. This survey of existing knowledge, particularly Polyvagal Theory (Porges 2011), suggests that toxic, destructive societal narratives create and are created from trauma-related overwhelm, individual and collective autonomic dysregulation, and distortion of subcortical autonomic threat responses. The paper concludes with specific recommendations for discouraging ecocidal practices and fostering regenerative narratives and actions whose implementation will contribute to the thriving of all Earthly life.
