IAED 410 Environmental Psychology Asst.Prof.Dr. Deniz Hasırcı Spring 2009-2010

What is Environmental Psychology? EP: The study of the relationships between behavior and experience and the built and natural environments. Characterized by the following: Study of the interrelationships of environment and behavior Importance on applied and theoretical research Interdisciplinary and international context Eclectic methodology

CONTEXT The role of context is crucial in human functioning. Systematic approach to context as a means for identifying new problems, which may have practical outcomes. So, what is context? Family? Various behavior settings? (home, school etc.) Psychological functioning in different cultural contexts? (Turkish, Japanese etc.) Language? Natural environment? Built environment? In general terms: “The interrelated conditions in which something exists or occurs, the relative environment”.

Wherever we are, and whatever we are doing, our behavior is influenced by aspects of the environment. Buildings Scenery People Sound etc. These influences can be so powerful that they can completely change the way we behave. Holiday, moving, war, recreation time

BIOLOGICAL SOCIAL BEHAVIORS ENVIRONMENTAL (natural and built)

We are dealing with a constant relationship. So, EP is: Stokols and Altman (1987): “The study of human behavior, well-being, and experience in relation to the socio-physical environment” We are dealing with a constant relationship. A beautiful park attracting so many visitors, it deteriorates.

What will we cover this semester? Definitions of EP Adaptation Pioneers of EP Research approaches Environmental Perception (Theories) Environmental Cognition (Cognitive maps) Environmental Attitudes Performance Preference Crowding, Privacy, Territoriality Personal Space, Personalization, Belonging Learning environments, Offices, Hospitals Environmental Stress Basic research methods to approach an E-B situation.

See you next week!

History of Environmental Psychology and Research Methods The Structure of the Ordinary? Built environments of great richness and complexity arose informally. Based on common understanding. Who had the control? patrons, builders, users? “Environmental knowing” was never made explicit.

Gifford: Environmental Psychology: Principles and Practice? Both science and application Theory + research + practice solution of architectural and ecological problems in the world.

* To ease a real-world problem, one must have knowledge to apply. Theory: not all-inclusive: provide directions for solutions Theory guides both research and practice Research findings: critical! Common sense can be dangerous in problems of design: Variations according to policies/culture/use. Variations according to times/trends. Individual differences.

This design is satisfactory for me - it will be satisfactory for everyone else. This design is satisfactory for the average person - it will be satisfactory for everybody else. The variability of human beings is so great that it is impossible to apply research- but people are adaptable, it doesn't matter anyway. Research-based design is expensive and time-consuming, it may be ignored. Research-based design is an excellent idea. I always design with this in mind - but I do it intuitively and rely on my common sense so I don't need tables of data. #

http://video. google. com/videoplay http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5362672651425023490&ei=kf2ES8fKF5bu2ALJ6a3DCw&q=peter+eisenman&view=3# http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5362672651425023490&ei=kf2ES8fKF5bu2ALJ6a3DCw&q=peter+eisenman&view=3#docid=314217174710611532

No single factor shapes our experience and/or behavior. Understanding and Application  to provide a coherent framework for understanding problematic EB relations.

Brief History of Environmental Psychology and the Pioneers of the Field

Alternative Names and Phases of the Field Architectural psychology,  narrow Socio-architecture, Ecopsychology, Behavioral geography, Environmental sociology, Social ecology, Environmental design research  sustainability Environment-behavior studies, Person-environment studies Each advanced by different researchers, overlaps between the terms. The knowledge can be applied to problematic real-world situations.

This field feeds from: anthropology and ergonomics, geography, sociology, psychology, history, political science, planning, architecture, urban design, aesthetics, semiotics, engineering, public policy

experiences of recently housed homeless people, privatization of public space, socio-spatial conflicts, children's safety in the public environment, relocation, community based approaches to housing, design of specialized environments (museums, zoos, gardens, hospitals), changing relationships between home, family and work, access to parks and other urban 'green spaces' diversity, exclusion, and the environment

Environmental Conditions The environment can be a great force but, people and the environment are often both active. Behavioral Consequences Environmental Conditions Behavioral Consequences Adaptive Psychological Processes

5 Principles of Environmental Psychology  Interdisciplinary   Improves the physical environment (applied) Carried out in everyday settings Considers person and setting as a holistic entity Recognizes that people actively cope with and shape settings rather than just absorb them

Lewin (1940’s): Field Theory and Action Research Brunswik (1943): “Representative Design”: “Environmental Psychology” in print: physical environments cn affect us without our knowing. Barker and Wright (1955): “Ecological Psychology” Ittelson (1964): “Environmental Psychology”: popularity In architecture Sommer and Ittelson (1960’s): Not just the aesthetic values, but comfort and needs of the users are also important. Town planners realize that how the town was planned affected how people used it.

David Canter (1972): Manual on psychology specifically for architects: “People and buildings: A brief overview of research” “Psychology of Place” 1960’s: “Journal of Environmental Psychology” and “Environment and Behavior” 1968: EDRA: Rappoport, Sanoff, Bechtel

* See you next week! ** Do not forget HW1. *** Form your groups, decide on the topics.

PEOPLE AND NATURE Bell: Habraken: The environment is a context, Yet a determinant or influence on behavior (solution also comes from the environment), Also, a consequence of behavior. Habraken: Built environment… can it be perceived as a single artifact? Grow, renew, endure Change and adaptation That is why restoration is: “a collage of intervention”.

… more like an organism.

Musee D'Orsay: 1900 and 1986

Control: Defending space against unwanted intrusion. Control is not necessarily transformation of space. Then it would be to act upon material aspects of space. Territorial control is to restrict entry: very instinctive. Understanding territorial control through looking at the built environment (location and designed parts).

Shifts in territorial claim. Margin created by architecture is softened.

http://arkitekturtv. dac http://arkitekturtv.dac.dk/video/516307/danish-architecture-for-people http://arkitekturtv.dac.dk/video/532080/ole-bouman-future-urban-space

The Human being in Nature Is our behavior or fundamental nature affected by forces of the earth? Human beings are an integral part of nature

Biophilia and Biophobia Gibson (1979): “Affordance”: Human affinity for nature. Edward O. Wilson (1984): The human need for contact with nature. Evolution with a need for survival/ operation in nature. To “like” envionments in which we function well. Ulrich (1993): “Biophilia and Biophobia” “Prepared learning”: easily learning threats Liking related to innate characteristics of the environment Genetic readiness + own experience or vicarious learning (someone else’s experience)

A park is a counterworld of the completely built urban environment: a symbol of nature

How does Nature Restore? Kaplans: Attention-restoration theory: Nature is inherently fascinating, it attracts our involuntary attention which requires no effort. Cognitive approach (recharging of capacity for attention)

Experiments: videos, pictures of natural scenes Evaluation: individual reports, and clinical numbers Phenomenological Experimental Theories and findings: consultancy to firms.

Stress Reduction We give directed attention to tasks requiring mental effort. We limit and delay directed attention fatigue We need to recharge by finding an “involuntary attention” requiring little effort. “Soft fascinations” are often in natural settings

http://vimeo.com/3544243

See you next week!