...What Is Environmental Psychology Environmental psychology is a discipline or field of psychology dealing with conservation and health psychologies. There are many theoretical approaches to environmental psychology. Several of these theories also tie into individual psychology as well. Two of the theories that connect both these psychologies are the alderian theory and Barker’s theory of under population. Research is very important to both the theories and environmental psychology as a field. Research and the lack of visible results was one of the reasons this field was born from the conservationist field of psychology. Environmental Psychology Environmental psychology examines the interrelationship between environments and human behavior and in this field the term environment is defined very broadly to include all that is natural on the planet as well as social settings, built environments, learning environments and informational environments (Young, 1999). From the beginning, environmental psychology has included researchers concerned with the health of the environment, and a great deal of research relevant to conservation psychology has been done by environmental psychologists (Clayton & Myers, 2009). Environmental psychologies roots come from late 1960s studies and research of other fields, although its exact origin is somewhat unknown (Clayton & Myers, 2009). There are many theories about this particular field of study – environmental psychology. Theories...
Words: 825 - Pages: 4
...Environmental Psychology PSY 460 Environmental Psychology Many individuals are familiar with Counseling Psychology, and many think psychology only deals with mental problems. However, the field of psychology has various disciplines that apply to every aspect of human life. One of those disciplines is Environmental Psychology. Individual’s interactions with his or her man-made or natural environment can have an impact on psychological health and behavior. Environmental psychologists research how people interact within his or her everyday environment. There are several theoretical approaches to the discipline of environmental psychology, which will be discussed further. The important contributions of environmental psychology come from research, and the relevance of research in the field is imperative to understanding the discipline as a whole. What is Environmental Psychology? The field of environmental psychology can best be condensed into an interdisciplinary psychological science that is concerned with the interactions of humans and his or her surrounding environment. Environmental psychologists research both the details and the overall effects of environment on human emotion and behavior (Fisher, 2007). The discipline of environmental psychology involves everything from architecture design to ecological impact. Many environmental psychologists will seek help from other scientific disciplines to aid in his or her research and work within the field of study. The overall goal...
Words: 1385 - Pages: 6
...Environmental Psychology Paper Robyn A. Cole August 13, 2012 PSY 460 Edward A. Muhammad, M.S. Environmental Psychology For more than the past ten years, the field of psychology has covered drawn out analysis and delved into the correlation among human beings and the environment. Clayton and Myers state that, “Recent quantitative assessments of the human impact on nature give a sobering picture: the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment found that about 60% of the earth’s ecosystem services are being used unsustainably” (2009, p. 1). This study has implies that ecological changes affect the revolutionalization in human behavior. The force of continuing environmental changes persistently influence human behavior and the progression of human thinking. Each day instances of climate changes will allow for increasing consciousness of the requirement to recycle, reusable plastic bags, and empty bottles, reduction of the garbage that is deserted in the waste dumping sites every year. Case in point, this motivates a knowledgeable community which stimulates inventive ideas and studies. Consequentially, this encourages people and community to feel good and inspires others to improve, recycle, and salvage better. In this paper we will define the discipline of environmental psychology, compare and contrast two major theoretical approaches, and explain the importance of research in the field of environmental psychology. The field of environmental psychology started in...
Words: 1018 - Pages: 5
...ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY INTRODUCTION: In play, the stage and scenery provide the context of what is going on: the kind of room the characters are in, the way it is decorated, and the amount and nature of its furnishings help us to interpret what is happening. They provide meaning for the actor’s and actresses’ actions and determine where they can walk, lean, or otherwise interact with props. For the play, the stage and scenery is the environment in which the story unfolds. The meaning of behaviour on the stage and what cab and cannot be done are determined by this environment. The theater would be far less entertaining or educational without the context provided by its environment. ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: In real life, our behaviour also occurs in the context of an environment, one that is constantly changing and rich in information. Unlike the setting on a stage, however, it provides more than meaning. Our environment also provides us with basic needs for life, including food, water, and air to breathe. It is also modified by our actions, and is irrevocably altered whenever one of us changes it. Our environment includes all of our natural and built surroundings, and is delicately balanced system that can easily be bruised or damaged. Whenever we change some part of it, other parts also change, and these other changes may be unintended or even dangerous. Concerns about what we were doing to our environment reached unprecedented prominence in the 1960s and have continued...
Words: 1355 - Pages: 6
...LEARNING UNIT: Critical Studies: Interior Design, 3rd Year. MODULE TITLE: Environmental Psychology (Psychology Of Space) SEMESTER: One TERM: One STUDENT NAME: Natasha Millar STUDENT NUMBER: 13-015 | | Environmental Psychology examines the interrelationship between environments and human effect, cognition and behaviour (Bechtel & Churchman 2002:187). The environment in which we are situated influences our behaviour and correspondingly our behaviour influences our environment (Kopec 2012:1). Using Kopec’s Cognitive, Socio-cultural and Neurobiology perspectives, I will be analysing four spaces within Section 4 of Constitution Hill, and how these environments have psychologically impacted on the prisoners by visually analysing the prison through the use of illustrations and research. The Socio-Cultural perspective explores behavioural and learning perspectives. Our daily social conditions such as status, gender norms and expectations, operate in conjunction with cultural traits such as tradition, ethnicity and our religious beliefs, in order to produce certain behaviours (Kopec 2012:5). The Cognitive behavioural theory focuses on the way in which we process information and how that information then affects our behaviour (Kopec 2012:5). This particular perspective will focus on how a prisoner gains knowledge, or becomes aware of events or objects within his environment...
Words: 2654 - Pages: 11
...Environmental Psychology The study of psychology is complex, unique, diverse, and ever-changing. Psychology is defined as “the scientific investigation of mental processes and behavior” (Kowalski & Weston, 2009, p. 4). One of the many disciplines in the dynamic field of psychology is environmental psychology. As with all disciplines of psychology, environmental psychology has a variety of theoretical perspectives. Two such perspectives are evolutionary and behavioral. The following is an introduction to environmental psychology, a description of evolutionary and behavioral perspectives and their application in environmental psychology, as well as an examination of the importance of research in environmental psychology. Environmental psychology is a psychological discipline that examines the relationship between human behavior and the environment. Historically, environmental psychology developed into a discipline in the 1960s, with intent to understand the impact of physical environment on human behavior (Environmental Psychology, 2004). Alfred Adler was one of many theorists who had an elemental role in the developing discipline. Adler observed that an individual’s interpretation of the interaction of organismic and environmental variables significantly affected the personality (Stewart, 2007). His observations had an influential role in the emergence of environmental psychology. Present-day environmental psychology has expanded beyond personality development. Modern environmental...
Words: 907 - Pages: 4
...What is Environmental Psychology? Paper Psychology is a broad and ever-growing field that involves the study of the human mind and behavior. Within the field of psychology, there are various different branches, or sub-fields, one of which is environmental psychology. This branch of psychology focuses on the relationship between individuals and their surroundings, such as their natural environments, social environments, built environments, learning environments, and informational environments (De Young, 1999). One of the main goals of the field of environmental psychology is to solve complex environmental problems for the betterment of individual well-being within society. Throughout the course of this paper, the discipline of environmental psychology will be examined. This paper will define the discipline of environmental psychology, compare and contrast at least two major theoretical approaches to environmental psychology, and explain the importance of research within the field of environmental psychology. Environment Psychology Defined Environmental psychology is a relatively new branch of psychology that focuses on the study of the interrelationship between the environment and human behavior. Within this field, the term environment is broadly defined to include the natural, or physical, environments, the social environments, built environments, learning environments, and informational environments (De Young, 1999). Unlike other braches of psychology, such as cultural...
Words: 893 - Pages: 4
...What is Environmental Psychology Beverly Beliveau July 23,2012 University of Phoenix Environmental psychology is an area where two disciplines are combined to try and show that between psychology and environmental and that a study of mutual effect is present. Communities or neighborhoods and family living all have different cultures living among them and environmental psychology helps to make things more pleasant and how to improve the living surroundings and understanding of the behavior. The Basic and easiest ways to describe environmental psychology in simpler terms is valued and needs. The world that is habited have different interactions with one another and most importantly give way for how psychology is formed. The center of environmental psychology is part of science that studies behaviors in a direction of developments. Environmental psychology gives detail to experiences, the behavior and the environment, the two theories are called stimulus load and arousal. Stimulus load theory is a limited volume of information that is processed through human beings. When elements have more attention to them than it reduces stimuli, which...
Words: 445 - Pages: 2
...Environmental Psychology Analysis Dan McKinney PSY/460 May 07, 2012 Aixa College University of Phoenix Environmental Psychology Analysis The article that is discussed in this report is the reduction of posttraumatic stress disorder following natural disasters. There is a lot of stress, fear, and behavior issues that following a traumatic event like a natural disasters. Most adults have difficulty coping with fear or stress while experiencing a natural disaster but it is especially challenging for children because of the lack of developmental stages of coping with stress and natural disasters. After such disasters children can show signs of distress and emotional disturbance, so acquiring parents, guardians, and teachers provide emotional support is essential for aiding in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder. In me cases children need professional help, therefore educating parents and loved ones to facilitate adaptive coping strategies and interventions is the first step with posttraumatic stress disorder. One must understand the signs after such a traumatic event like a natural disaster in which case executing the proper proven interventions that incorporate play with aid in developing coping skills for children who have PTSD. Many different therapies like Cognitive Behavior Therapy Family Play Therapy are usually the best fit for PTSD. Smith (2011), “After...
Words: 818 - Pages: 4
...Environmental Psychology Article Analysis PSY/460 March 26, 2012 Environmental Psychology Article Analysis Catastrophic events are incidents that have a sudden and powerful impact that elicit a reaction from people universally (Arkkelin & Veitch, 1995). These kinds of incidents can include nuclear disasters, natural disasters, or terrorist attacks like the attacks that took place on September 11, 2001 (9/11). The examinations of the psychological phenomena that occur from these events are crucial for the understanding of how people experience, respond, and perceive global threats (Hipp et al, 2009). Specifically, the attacks on 9/11 were actions of terrorist and exposed the weaknesses of the nation, and specifically Washington DC. The article that will be scrutinized by Bornstein & Hendricks (2007) attempts to analyze the stress responses of adolescents in the Washington D.C. area within an ecological structure including, adolescent perception, maternal personal characteristics, and adolescent personal characteristics. The Theoretical Basis of the Article Bornstein & Hendricks (2007) use, “…a developmental, multivariate approach that allows for the evaluation of interrelations among variables as well as the unique contributions of each…” (p. 72). The extent of this study is distinctive because few studies have investigated the effects of disasters and war on adolescents from an ecological viewpoint. The article reflects upon the adolescent...
Words: 991 - Pages: 4
...Environmental and Evolutionary Psychology Transcript PSYCH/635 February 1, 2016 Dr. John Barker Environmental and Evolutionary Psychology Transcript Introduction The environmental and evolutionary psychology field is the study of how a person’s environment can affect their psychological process. The environmental field helps identify if there is a connection involving the environment of a person and what impact it can have on a person’s life. The evolutionary psychology part of the field does research on a person’s memory, perspectives, and language through the theory of adaptation. Evolutionary theory will focus on the properties of an organism and how the organism functions and it will include information on how the brain functions. Some people will react to certain situations in one manner and someone else in another. It depends on the person and the situation that they are faced with as well as the environment that they were raised in. People will tend to adapt in their environment because of necessity to survive and to become comfortable within their environment. Theorists that study evolution may view a person’s psychological traits to be progressed adaptations. The field of environmental and evolutionary psychology can help a person in understanding how external factors may affect their lives. Some people do not see the outdoors as being therapeutic, but there are a lot of factors of being in nature that can help a person. Spending time outdoors and with animals can...
Words: 1461 - Pages: 6
...Environmental Psychology Environmental psychology is the study of the environment’s affect on humans as well as the effect humans have on the environment (Clayton & Myers, 2009). The theories of evolutionary psychology and biophilia seek to explain the extremely complex relationship between humans and their natural environment. Environmental research within this discipline has obtained empirical evidence, which proves helpful in establishing guidelines by which humans can begin to fully understand their role in protecting and sustaining nature as nature, in turn, sustains survival for humans. According to Clayton and Myers (2009), environmental psychology is “a specialty within psychology that studies the reciprocal influences of people and their environments, characterized by both systematic theory and a concern for practical application” (p. 209). The goal of environmental psychology is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between people and their environment while recognizing the reciprocal influence each has on the other. Because of the codependent nature of this relationship with the environment providing humans with resources for survival such as food, water, and shelter, it is imperative for humans to cultivate and protect their natural environment (Clayton & Myers, 2009). Theoretical Approaches to Environmental Psychology Biophilia Biophilia suggests that humans have an innate connection with other living systems within their natural environment,...
Words: 824 - Pages: 4
...The Effects of Population Density and Noise Toni Kubitscheck University of Phoenix Environmental Psychology PSY/460 Cheryl Sanders December 07, 2011 The Effects of Population Density and Noise WHAT??? Speak up, there are so many people in here and it is so loud… In analyzing the effects that nose and population density have on the human race, it is not uncommon for people to be affected in many different and negative ways. However, there are a vast number of negative factors that affect individuals in either their work or home environments such as: noise, population changes, territoriality issues, privacy, and personal space issues just to name a few, there can be just as many positive impacts as well. As population becomes denser or increases it is only natural that noise pollution is going to increase too, and along with the increase in population and noise, concepts of trust, privacy and personal space issues increase. The effects of these issues become increasingly negative. However, there are factors within personal environments that increase positive impacts upon individuals, for instance in every city, county and state there are parks, nature trails, zoos, and other wonderful environments within bigger environments that people can utilize to counter balance the negative impacts. Concepts of territoriality, privacy, and personal space are all cognitive processes that portray ownership including; places, possessions, and even people. Therefore, with the growth...
Words: 864 - Pages: 4
...Febuary 16, 2015 Leah Reagan PSY/460 The definition of environmental psychology is to study how the environment can influence and affect how a person react or acts and certain aspects of their life, for example if you have to use the rest room and you are in a place with a waterfall or a water feature it can cause you to have the use the restroom room with much more intensity then if you did not see the water, or if you are in a place with dimly lit lights and soft music you start to feel drowsy/ sleepy. This is why environmental psychology is studied to determine why the environment causes people to react in certain ways. Environmental psychology study can help many with making improvements within the work area regarding employee productivity, if an employee is at work and the colors on the wall make them feel gloomy and sad it may cause the employee to work less and not as much as he/she may usually work. Many employees at work listen to music which seems to help with productivity and causes employees to be upbeat and cheerful having this kind of information is very beneficial with that being said Architectural psychology is just as important as is environmental psychology the two go hand in hand. Architectural psychology gave importance to the physical environment of one’s area (Steg, 2013). This information is useful to assist with the help of relieving physical stressors; It can help with the design...
Words: 385 - Pages: 2
...A Healing Hospital’s Spirituality Grand Canyon University August 23, 2015 A Healing Hospital’s Spirituality A healing environment has been a sought after aspect since Nightingale. Today, more and more organizations are using techniques to provide a stress free and healing environments to their facilities. Studies show that a harmonious combination of environmental psychology, sociology, and architecture can reduce stress and promote healing (Zborowsky, 2008). This paper shall discuss the components that make up a healing environment as well as the challenges encountered in creating an environment that promotes healing. Components of a Healing Hospital To begin with, a large focus in creating a healing environment is in stress relief. Contact with nature has been shown to decrease stress and reduce anger (Zborowsky, 2008). Architecturally, facilities create this contact by having large windows that provide views to gardens on the outside. Another component that promotes a healing environment is decreasing noise, and increasing air quality. Studies have shown that poor air quality increase heart rate and blood pressure (Blomkvist, 2005). Other architectural components that can promote healing are private rooms, which can reduce exposure to infection and adaptable rooms that can adapt the different acuity levels allowing the patient to remain in the same room. The importance of single patient rooms has been noted by the Joint Commission following guidelines that require...
Words: 802 - Pages: 4
