When Bre Met Environmental Psychology

Environmental psychology. Have you heard of it?

 When I tell people that I am an environmental psychologist, I receive a plethora of reactions ranging from, “Oh, we need someone to care about the trees!” to “Huh?” While, yes, I do care about trees, I also understand the confusion.

The scholarly study of psychology dates back about 150 years while disciplines such as biology or chemistry were well established in the 4th century. Environmental psychology in particular was recognized as recently in the 1960s.

Environmental psychology is the study of the interrelationship between humans and the built and natural environment. Examples of humans affecting the environment abound: We build buildings, paint walls, and even redirect waterflow of ancient rivers. Yet, coming up with instances of the environment affecting humans requires more effort.  

Ambient temperature is an obvious one, but what about more subtle examples? 

·      Do you feel a deep sense of relaxation when you watch ocean waves?

·      Does your blood pressure elevate when you walk into a doctor’s office?

·      Do you always set up in the same spot for your weekly yoga class?

Environmental psychologists study this, and wonder what the patterns are and why they occur.

I have always been one of these wonderers, but thought I was just weirdly observant. Then I learned two things in high school that showed me that the things I notice do matter.

One is the Broken Window Theory. This theory was applied to policing in 1982 by Wilson and Kellig. In an article for The Atlantic, they explained that physical signs of disorder in an environment (for example, broken windows) leads to more disorder (crime).

 In the 1990s, police departments in New York City tested this idea by physically cleaning up high-crime areas. Following the clean-up, there was a decline in criminal activity. It is important to note (as many scholars have since the 90s), that police presence also grew around the time of the clean-up.. Nevertheless, the idea remains, the environment affects our behavior.  

The second lesson is about the interior design of restaurants. In high school psychology, I learned that many restaurant designers create spaces based on how fast owners want customers to eat. The hard surfaces and bright lights of fast food restaurants encourage quick eating and high turnover. Conversely, fine-dining establishments use comfortable chairs and low, candle-lit lighting to encourage comfort, intimacy and, perhaps, the urge to order another $20 cocktail.  

So why does this all matter? Because we can continue to use research to understand how environment affects our behavior. As a result, we can continue to design our environments to promote greater good—more comfort, clearer thinking, a more pleasurable experience.

We can design healthier spaces for our aging population, and daylit offices so we're nicer to our co-workers. We can also renovate old buildings to avoid sprawl and natural destruction.

How can you alter something about your environment to improve your day?