Paper short abstract:

This presentation discusses ticks and nature from the perspective of solastalgia. In what way is solastalgia and the sense of losing control bringing about affective responses? Dimensions of solastalgia and it´s affective responses will be discussed as available in ethnographic material.

Paper long abstract:

Since the 1990s, an increased knowledge of ticks and the danger to our health they may possess have changed many daily habits and routines for people living in Finland - especially in the archipelago and along the coastline, where ticks are numerous. With the climate change, the number of ticks has increased, along with other species that serve as vectors for ticks. Daily tick related habits and routines are emerging and re-emerging during the tick season, lasting from early Spring until late Autumn, including daily inspections of the body and the usage of tick repellents of various kinds, primarily on pets. Also protective clothing is of importance while spending time outdoors.

In my presentation, I want to address questions of how ticks bring about senses of solastalgia. Solastalgia (see e.g. Albrecht et al. 2007) is a concept developed to give greater meaning and clarity to environmentally induced distress. As opposed to nostalgia, solastalgia is the distress produced by environmental change impacting on people and their home environment. Changes in the environment, as considered to have been brought along by ticks, have negative effects exacerbated by a sense of powerlessness and lack of control. In what way is solastalgia and the sense of losing control bringing about affective responses and of what kind? The dimensions of solastalgia and it´s affective responses will be discussed as available in questionnaires, newspaper articles and online discussions.