How Environmental Psychology can enrich your Psychology classes Dr. Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges Chair, Psychology Department UW-Green Bay

5 Principles of Environmental Psychology  Capable of improving the physical environment (applied)  Carried out in everyday settings  Considers person and setting as a holistic entity – social ecology  Recognizes that people actively cope with and shape settings rather than just absorb them  Interdisciplinary

The Restorative Effects of Nature

Consequences of Indoor Lifestyles  Insomnia and chronic fatigue  Depression – S.A.D.  Bone disorders  Fertility Problems, PMS, Irregular cycles  Obesity and other food related illnesses  Increase cancer risk  Stress

Research and Theory: Restorative Environments  Nature has been shown to provide opportunities for renewal of cognitive resources and psycho-physiological response capabilities.

People perceive nature as restorative and prefer natural environments  Recent nationwide survey (Frerichs, 2004) showed 95% believe that a visit to nature relieves stress.  Motives for recreating outdoors include stress reduction, clearing the head, escape from civilization, and reflection on the important things in life.  People perceive nature as more beautiful and prefer it to the built environment.

Nature is Restorative  More than 20 recent studies have concluded that exposure to nature (either passive viewing or active entry) is restorative  Attention Restoration Theory (ART) (e.g., Bagot, 2004; Berto, 2005; Lepore & Evans, 1996) –Directed attention fatigue = decreased concentration, increased irritability and stress –Nature restores by holding attention effortlessly (evolutionary history) and having high compatibility  Psycho-physiological stress recovery (Hartig, et. al., 2003) –After attention fatigue, nature (both brief views and walking) restores blood pressure to normal levels

Stress, Health and Restoration  Ulrich’s (1984) surgical patient study found patients with a view of nature: – required less pain meds –were hospitalized 1 day less on average –received fewer negative evaluations from the nursing staff.  Replicated with pictures of nature versus abstract art

Benefits of Residential Green Space  Ineffective stress recovery may undermine physical health  Urbanites without exposure to nature may display more symptoms of chronic stress.  Residents with abundant green space close and somewhat close (1-3 km) to home report fewer health problems (Maas, 2006).  Presence of green space promotes exercise, social contacts, better air quality and less noise.