1. Environmental Psychology David L. Wiesenthal www.psych.yorku.ca/davidw
Psychology P
Environmental Psychology
David L. Wiesenthal

2. Contact Information: D. L. Wiesenthal
288 Behavioural Sciences Building
(416) , ext (voice mail available)
Office hours by appointment
Secretary: Ms. Judy Manners, 280 BS

3. Research Interests
Driver stress, reduction of driver stress, aggressive behaviour on roadways
Driver vengeance
Research ethics
Vandalism
Housing needs of different groups
Scientific racism

4. Course Organization Exam 1 (40%) Exam 2 (40% Exam 3 (20%)
All exams cover only that units work—they are NOT cumulative
Exams are equally composed of material from lecture, films and readings

5. Missed Exams
Make-up exams will only be provided to those submitting the University’s form (see course outline for details).
The teaching assistant must be contacted (preferably by ) within the designated time period either prior to, or following the exam.

6. Missed Exams
Make-up exams will be held at a time and place arranged by the teaching assistant.

7. Lecture Format Attending lectures is vital
PowerPoint presentations for each lecture will be posted on my website.
If you miss a video, you can view at the Sound and Moving Image Library on the ground floor of Scott Library
All films will be discussed and you will be informed prior to the film what you should be getting from the video.

8. Lecture Format Lectures will be for the full three hour time slot.
A 15 minute break will occur at different times for each session.

9. What is environmental psychology?
Environmental psychology studies the effect of the environment (or environmental variables) on behaviour. This is the dominant approach.
Environmental psychology also studies the impact people have on the environment (e.g., studies of littering, motivation for family planning, energy conservation, recycling, use of mass transportation etc.)
Environmental psychology is a subarea (division) in both the American and Canadian Psychological Associations.
Environmental psychology dates back to 1970.

12. What gave rise to environmental psychology?
Kurt Lewin’s field theory
P = person
E = psychological environment
L = life space

13. Lewin’s interaction model of personality
Nonpsychological aspects of the universe P E
Nonpsychological aspects of the universe

14. What gave rise to environmental psychological?
Problems of cities, population density, pollution, inner city decay, effects of apartment house living.
Awareness and importance of the natural environment (endangered wildlife, pollution threats, etc.)
Desire of social psychology to be useful
Frustration with theory building in social psychology and in disappointment over its implementation to solve societal problems.

15. Assumptions About How the Environment Operates
The environment is experienced as a unitary field.
The person has environmental properties as well as individual ones.
There is no physical environment that is not embedded in, and related to a social system.
The degree of influence of the physical environment on behaviour varies with the behaviour in question
The environment frequently operates below the level of awareness.
The “observed” environment is not necessarily the “real”environment.

16. Franco Magnani ‘s Pontito Paintings

30. Main Street Disney World

31. Assumptions About How the Environment Operates
The environment is organized as a set of mental images
The environment has symbolic value.

32. Chartres Cathedral

33. Chartres Cathedral

34. Jerusalem: Different Meanings for Different Religions

35. No shortage of symbols here!