Environmental Psychology: Human Behavior and Surroundings
Environmental Psychology
- Definition: Studies the interaction between environment and behavior.
- Scope: Natural environment, built environment, human behavior, and resource conservation.
- Emergence:
- Hellpach – First used the term.
- Egon Brunswik & Kurt Lewin – Founding fathers.
- Became independent in the 1960s.
Relationship with Other Disciplines
- Biological Science – Biological basis of behavior.
- Ergonomics – Design according to human needs.
- Community Psychology – Person–community interaction.
- Architectural Psychology – Effect of buildings on behavior.
Research Methods
- Questionnaire
- Survey
- Scientific experiment
- Field study
Population Density
- Number of people per unit area.
- Objective concept.
Environment–Behavior Relationship
Nature
- Environment affects behavior.
- Behavior also modifies the environment.
- The relationship is dynamic and reciprocal.
Functions
- Adaptation
- Prediction of behavior
- Environmental planning
- Improving quality of life
Environmental Stress Theory
- Stress: Environmental demands exceed coping ability.
- Stressor: Noise, heat, crowding, pollution.
- Types:
- Cataclysmic events
- Stressful life events
- Daily hassles
- Ambient stressors
- Selye: Alarm → Resistance → Exhaustion.
- Lazarus: Primary appraisal → Secondary appraisal → Coping.
Other Theories
- Arousal Theory: Moderate arousal equals best performance.
- Adaptation-Level Theory: People adapt to repeated environmental stimulation.
- Control/Overload Theory: Too much information leads to loss of control and stress.
Environmental Perception
Definition
- Process of receiving, organizing, and interpreting environmental information.
Characteristics
- Begins with environmental stimuli.
- Involves sensory processing.
- Helps identify environmental features.
- Assists in decision-making.
- Important for survival.
Perspectives
- Ontogenetic: Whole life.
- Nativist: By birth.
- Learning.
- Interactionist: Combining all three.
Territoriality
- Behavior of claiming, using, and defending space.
Classification
Altman
- Primary, Secondary, Public.
Lyman & Scott
- Public, Interactional, Home, Body.
Measurement
- Observation, Interview, Questionnaire, Mapping.
Factors Affecting Territorial Behavior
- Age, Gender, Culture, Personality, Population density.
Personal Space
- Invisible space around a person.
- Provides privacy and comfort.
- Factors: Age, Gender, Culture, Relationship, Situation.
Crowding
Definition
- Subjective feeling of too many people in a limited space.
Difference
- Density: Objective.
- Crowding: Subjective.
Types
- Objective crowding, Subjective crowding, Social density, Spatial density.
Characteristics
- Stressor, Social & non-social crowding, Crowding vs. undercrowding, Lack of control, Depends on social interaction.
Individual Differences
- Personality, Urban vs. rural background, Personal space preference, Friedman: Density-Intensity Theory.
Cultural Factors
- Collectivistic cultures tolerate crowding better.
Effects
- Physical: Disease, pollution.
- Social: Aggression, crime, withdrawal.
- Psychological: Stress, frustration, depression, lower performance.
Disasters
Natural Disasters
- Sudden events causing heavy loss.
- Causes: Earthquakes, Floods, Cyclones, Landslides, Volcanic eruptions.
- Effects: Physical, Social, Psychological, Economic.
NDMA
- Apex body, Disaster Management Act (2005), Headed by Prime Minister.
- Functions: Policies & guidelines, Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Institutional mechanism, Technology-driven approach, Coordination.
Community Resilience
- Professionalization, Social & mass media, Community participation, District disaster management planning.
Wayfinding
Definition
- Finding and following a route.
Characteristics
- Goal-oriented, Decision-making, Uses environmental information, Uses landmarks and signs.
Tools
- Maps, Signs, Landmarks, Guideboards, Compass, GPS.
Global Warming & Climate Change
Global Warming
- Increase in Earth’s temperature.
- Schneider (1989).
Climate Change
- Long-term changes in climate.
- IPCC (2007) and UNFCCC definitions.
- Causes (Natural): Volcanoes, Ocean currents, Earth’s orbit, Solar variation.
- Causes (Human): Deforestation, Fossil fuels, Mining, Industrialization, Population growth.
- Greenhouse Gases: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, Halocarbons.
- Consequences: Higher temperature, Rainfall changes, Floods & droughts, Sea-level rise, Disease spread, Biodiversity loss, Human health effects.
- Debates: Is global warming real? Natural vs. human causes, Ice-core evidence, Human responsibility.
- Sustainability: Resource conservation, Biodiversity protection, Pollution control, Energy conservation, Waste management, Public participation, Environmental laws.