Course Description
A study of the relationships between human psychological functioning and the terrestrial and atmospheric environments. This course will survey environmental psychology theories and research that encompass environmental perception and cognition, noise, crowding, psychology of weather and climate, personal space, planning and design of work and leisure environments, and environmental hazards.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
In addition to textbook readings, graduate students will
complete readings of original research articles appearing in
the forums for disseminating environmental psychology research
(e.g., Journal of Environmental Psychology, Environment and
Behavior, Weather, Climate and Society, etc.). Students
receiving graduate credit also will complete a literature
review term paper on a topic of their choosing. Finally,
students taking this course for graduate credit will receive a
different and more challenging set of course tests/examinations
compared to the undergraduate students enrolled in the course.
Athena Title
ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCH
Prerequisite
PSYC 1101
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course will have the following goals and objectives: 1.Develop a fuller understanding of the relationships between human psychological functioning and the terrestrial and atmospheric environments. This goal will be accomplished by pursuing the following objectives: a. Complete and discuss course readings that pertain to theories of environment-behavior relationships generally, environmental perception and cognition, personal space/territoriality, weather and climate influences, and environmental hazards. b. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the relevant material through course discussions, completion of homework assignments, and successful responses to examination items. 2. Examine the ways that the natural environment can pose challenges as well as enhance psychological well-being. This goal will be accomplished by: a. Having students complete text and supplemental readings on the psychological effects of crowding, noise, and uncomfortable thermal environments. b. Having students complete readings on the restorative and de- stressing characteristics of certain natural, unpopulated or underpopulated environments. c. Students will demonstrate their realization of these objectives by exhibiting an adequate understanding of concepts and problems in the course lectures and discussions and by answering examination questions periodically in the semester. 3.Become knowledgeable about the typical theories and research methods used in environmental psychology. This goal will be pursued by having students: a. Read text and supplemental readings on: environmental perception an cognition, effects of noise and crowding, personal space, urban settings, weather and climate effects, natural hazards and environmental disasters, work and leisure environments, and planning and design for human behavior. b. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of environmental psychology topics by engaging in in-class discussions, completion of in-class activities, homework assignments, and by successfully responding to examination items. 4. Become knowledgeable about the applications of environmental psychology to promote human psychological and physical health and to prevent harm. This goal will be accomplished by: a. Having students complete readings in which they synthesize the effects of the man-made and natural environments with the assortment of other interpersonal, occupational, and cultural that together affect human psychological functioning. b. Having students complete in-class learning activities and homework assignments that have them articulate perspectives of environmental psychology on threats to safety such as interpersonal violence, crime, natural, and man-made disasters. c. Students will demonstrate their knowledge in this area by the completion of homework assignments, discussions, and responses to examination items.
Topical Outline
I. Introduction to Environmental Psychology A. Definitions and Characteristics of Environmental Psychology B. Research Methods in Environmental Psychology C. Data Collection Methods D. Ethical Considerations in Environmental Psychology II. Nature and Human Nature A. Values and Attitudes B. Environmental Assessment C. Restorative Effects of Nature D. Natural Landscapes as Places E. Attachment to Place III. Theories of Environment, Psychological and Behavioral Relationships A. Arousal Perspectives B. Environmental Load C. Understimulation Perspective D. Adaptation Level Theory E. Environmental Stress Perspectives F. Behavioral Constraints G. Barker’s Ecological Psychology IV. Environmental Perception and Cognition A. Nature and Perspectives on Environmental Perception B. Nativism versus Learning C. Habituation and Change D. Cognitive Maps E. Wayfinding V. Psychology of Weather and Climate A. Perception of Weather and Climate B. Cognitive and Affective Relationships to Weather and Climate C. Thermal stress: Extremes of Heat and Cold D. Wind and Behavior E. Barometric Pressure F. Extreme weather events and weather safety VI. Noise A. Sources of Noise B. Noise Perception C. Noise-related stress D. Effects of Noise in Different Physical and Social Environments E. Attempts to Reduce Noise VII. High Density Environments and Crowding A. Effects of Crowding in non-human Animals B. Causes and Effects of Crowding for Humans C. Physical and Psychological Effects of High Density on Humans D. Theories of Crowding Effects on Humans E. Eliminating the Causes and Effects of Crowding VII. Personal Space and Territoriality A. Personal Space Functions B. Research Methods for Studying Personal Space C. Individual Differences and Personal Space D. Spatial Zones that Promote Goal Fulfillment E. Consequences of Too Much or Too Little Personal Space F. Territorial Behavior G. Territory and Aggression VIII. Natural Disasters A. What Constitutes a Natural Disaster? B. Perceptions of Natural Hazards C. Psychological Effects of Natural Disasters D. Technological Disasters E. Primary and Secondary Victims in Natural Disasters F. Effects of Toxic Exposures G. Air Pollution and Behavior IX. Environmental Planning and Design Issues: Implications for Human Psychological Functioning. A. The Physical and Natural Environment as a Behavior Setting B. Designers’ Perspectives C. Users’ and Consumers’ Perspectives D. Design Considerations E. Design Cycle F. Assessment and Evaluation of Designs G. Design Considerations in Work, Learning, and Leisure Environments H. Management of Environmental Resources for Psychological Purposes I. Changing Behavior to Save the Environment
Syllabus