Peak Oil: An Ongoing Case Study in Unsuccessful Avoidance Behaviour

Abstract

Peak oil is the point at which oil production reaches a maximum value and thereafter declines. Because of the dependence of industrialized society on oil, peak oil may be one of the most important, possibly cataclysmic, events in modern history. Averting economic damage due to peak oil is defined as a behavioral problem in terms of one-trial discriminated avoidance responding. Several factors that make it difficult to execute this type of avoidance responding are discussed. A risk management approach for dealing with the problem is advocated.