Within psychology there are a large number of different branches and fields, due to the diversity of objects of study and practical applications of this academic discipline. One of the youngest fields of study in psychology is environmental psychology. But what is environmental psychology? Environmental psychology investigates very different aspects that range from the effect of different environmental variables to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly cities. If you want to know more about this field of psychology, continue reading this Psychology-Online article: What is environmental psychology: definition, characteristics and examples.
For a few years now, there has been greater concern and consideration for the environment and its problems. This increase in interest promotes the development of environmental awareness, which considers that human beings are responsible for the changes that occur in our environment, as well as this environment is capable of influencing our emotions and behaviors. The existence of a bidirectional relationship between people and the environment is therefore highlighted. This concern fostered the birth of a new theoretical field or discipline within psychology: environmental psychology.
Environmental psychology: definition
What is environmental psychology? Environmental psychology was recognized as an interdisciplinary field within psychology in the 1960s. The definition of environmental psychology is as follows: study and analysis of the interrelationship and interaction of human beings with their environment. It encompasses and distinguishes between natural, human-created, social, learning and informational environments.
The environmental psychology either ecological psychology focuses on the different behavioral and psychological variables of people in relation to the exchange that occurs with various environments. The environment is not a neutral space, but rather an environment marked with meanings. It consists of a context in which the space-time dimensions acquire great importance, as well as the cultural meanings and value and belief systems that develop therein. It is, therefore, the space that builds the functioning of the person and the behavior of the human being that in turn models this environment.
There are antecedents of environmental psychology in the decade of the 40s, in which the relationship between person and environment. In this decade and that of the 1950s, the theoretical works of authors such as Kurt Lewin, Roger Barker and Herbert F. Wright stand out. These contributions culminated in the proliferation of studies in this field in the 70s and the consolidation of environmental psychology as its own discipline, differentiated from others. From this moment on, various authors analyze and develop various methodologies, concepts, and theoretical approaches to environmental psychology.
Likewise, knowledge about environmental or ecological psychology is collected and unified in manuals. One of the most notable is the handbook of environmental psychology by Charles J. Holahan from the year 1991. This environmental psychology book offers a definition, characteristics and object of study of environmental psychology, as well as bringing together knowledge and research on the relationship between the environment and the person, such as the importance of personal space, the effects of the environment on performance, the consequences of urban design etc.
Environmental psychology: characteristics
The characteristics that define environmental psychology are the following:
- Consideration of the relationships between humans and the environment as bidirectional, so the object of study of this discipline is the effects of the environment on people and the impact of human beings on the environment. Therefore, the reciprocal and mutual relationship between behavior and the ecological niche is studied.
- The environment is not only analyzed from a physical perspective, but also from a social perspective. This is why not only those physical variables of the environment, such as space and time, but also social ones, such as culture and value system, are taken into account. Both aspects have a great influence on the behavioral functioning of human beings. Therefore, in environmental psychology it is object of analysis the sociophysical environment.
- The approach of environmental psychology is holistic, that is, analyzes the environment as a whole, in a comprehensive and integrated way. It is based on a global perspective, on the interaction of the different components of the environment, instead of the isolation of these elements and their analysis in a partial and separate way.
- The orientation of environmental or ecological psychology is practical, so Its objective is to offer an applied answer to different social demands. Although environmental psychology develops concepts and theoretical explanations, it has an applied vocation; it is aimed at achieving changes in the environment that facilitate both human and environmental well-being. Therefore, there is an intimate relationship between theory and practice.
- environmental psychology It is interdisciplinarysince it shares studies and draws on other disciplines such as biology, geography, architectureergonomics, urban anthropology etc.
- The methodology used in this field of study It’s eclectic, which means that different methodological procedures are used in the research. The use of a variety of methods and experimental designs favors a more complete approach to the object of study.
- The perspective of environmental psychology It is non-deterministic, people are not considered passive subjects towards the environment, but rather beings capable and oriented towards the production of changes and alterations in the environment. There is a dynamic exchange of influences between humans and the environment.
Broadly speaking, the object of study and objective of environmental psychology is the interaction and interrelation between the person and the context, both physical and social. However, within this discipline we can distinguish various approaches or objects of study. Below, we list the different topics that environmental psychology studies:
- Relationship between physical space and behavior: research about the variables of physical space and their influence on human behavior. From this approach, personal space, territoriality, overcrowding, appropriation and distribution of spaces, etc. are analyzed.
- Influence of environmental variables on human behavior: studies the incidence of different environmental dimensions and their effects on people’s perceptions, cognitions and emotions, as well as their adaptation to them. Studies are included about elements such as environmental stress, noise, light, color, climate and temperature, and pollution and their effects. psychological and physical consequences About people. Also included are the effects on performance and the variability of the effects of these variables in different environments.
- Environmental design and planning: approach and creation of environments based on the consideration of environmental variables and their effects on people. On the other hand, it also applies to the design of environments and products that are ecological, respectable and sustainable for the environment, based on the consequences on the environment.
- Environmental knowledge: It refers to the subjective and mental representation that people have about their environment, as well as the meanings and emotions linked to it. This branch studies how human beings perceive and understand the environment on a personal level and organize it in the mind.
- Behaviors and attitudes towards the environment: analysis of cultural and psychological differences in the development of attitudes and awareness about the environment, as well as study of the factors that influence these. The different motivations that lead to concern about the environment are also analyzed.
- Relationship between population groups and their relationship with the environment: analysis of the specific needs of certain groups of the population in relation to the construction and distribution of spaces, as well as the difficulties they experience derived from this design.