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Introduction to Environmental Psychology
Content
1. Origin of environmental psychology
2. Perception a. seeing b. gestalt c. depth
3. Effects of the environment on us a. place attachment b. place identity c. territoriality d. personal space e. crowding f. privacy
1. Introduction
2 directions led to environmental psychology- from psychology (limitation of experimental settings)- from architecture (designing for a specific outcome)
“A sense that architecture was a system with no feedback and psycholo-gists wanted to get the users involved”
1. Introduction
Different viewpoints from laypersons, psychologists and architects also result in badly formulated ques-tions for the other groups
Desire to solve real world problems
1. Introduction
4 ways of looking at the world:
a. Deterministicb. Interactionalc. Organismicd. Transactional
1. Introduction
a. Deterministic
relationship between the person and environment is causal
if this is the case, then that happens
1. Introduction
b. Interactional
Focus on combination of person and environment
if this is the case, then there is a possibility that that happens.
1. Introduction
c. Organismic
relationship between the person and environment is part of a wholeif this is the case, then there is a possibility that that happens,which influences the rest of the system,either moving to or from the ideal end state
Memories
associations
preferences
1. Introduction
d. Transactional
relationship between the person and environment is part of a whole
There is no ideal end statechange and time are defining features of the system
Memories
associations
preferences
Today
1. Introduction
But, we first need to perceive the environment in or-der to move around
2. Perception
Information comes in through the senses:
smell touch pain sound vision taste
2. Perception Vision
Goal ->identify meaningful objects and ac-tivities
seeing forms and patterns
visual system - image
2. Perception Vision
objects are defined by contours -> edges or borderschanges in brightness or colour from the background
brain enhances contrast of borders -> lighter near dark border, darker near light border.
2. Perception Vision
“ The whole is different from the sum of
its parts. ”
the whole is defined by the way the parts are organised
Built in rules for organising el-ements into wholes -> 6 rules
2. Perception Gestalt
Proximity
2. Perception Gestalt
Similarity
2. Perception Gestalt
Closure
2. Perception Gestalt
Good continuation
2. Perception Gestalt
Common movement
2. Perception Gestalt
Good form(simple, uncluttered, symmetrical, regular, predict-able)
2. Perception Gestalt
Figure ground
usually circum-scribed is seen as object,circumscribing as background
2. Perception Gestalt
Pictorial cues:
occlusion
relative image size for familiar objects
linear perspective (convergence)texture gradient (decrease in size and spacing)position relative to horizon
differential lighting of surfaces
2. Perception Depth
Motion parallax
effects/ease of perceiving nature & fractal like environments3 theories:
Attention restoration (kaplan & kaplan)being away - fascination - extent - compatibility
Biophilia (Wilson)
Fractality (based on Mandelbrot)
2. Perception Environment
source of all info about the environmentnot a sensation but a filtering processinvolves processing complex & often meaningful stimulicannot perceive everything
lecture affordances:what is there to see, not how things look
2. Perception Concluding
Environmental stress -> too many stimuliBehaviour constraints -> walls, locks, height, fencesBehaviour settings -> culture, predefined rulesEnvironmental restoration -> extent, natureAesthetic preferences -> culturally based, learnedStereotyping -> associations between persons & environmentPlace attachment, place identity -> memories & personal identityTerritoriality, personal space -> control personal boundariesCrowding, privacy -> defensible space -> marking, control
3. Effects on us Environment
(place) Identity
Identity can be approached from the individual or group level.Which identity-role is important directs behaviourWhen a place becomes part of your identity ->“I am a city-person” “I am a TU-Delft student”
3. Effects on us Place identity
Place identity
Place reflects on the person’s identity, and the person might see oneself different based on the place.
Identity process theory (Breakwell)& place:
distinctivenesscontinuityself esteemself efficacy
3. Effects on us Place identity
Place attachment
Usually positive emotional bonds to physical and so-cial settings that support identity and provide other psychological benefits.
3. Effects on us Place attachment
Place attachment
Space vs. placeSpace is the physical environment, where place is the meaning people attach to that space
5 aspects of place attachment:sense of securityautonomyappropriationstimulationcongruence
3. Effects on us Place attachment
Territoriality
A self-other boundary regulation mechanism that involves personalisation of or marking of a place or object, and communication that it is ‘owned’ by a person or group.contrary to personal space the boundary is physical and more or less constant.
3. Effects on us Territoriality
Personalisation and ownership are designed to regulate social interaction and to help satisfy various social and physical motives.
Territoriality
3 types of territory:
Primary - the space is ownedSecondary - control of the space is likely to changePublic - first come, first served
Which space is which type of territory depends on per-ception of the person -> not necessarily equal for everyone
3. Effects on us Territoriality
Personal space
An invisible boundary surrounding a person’s body into which intruders may not come.
It has three aspects:a portable territorya spacing mechanisma communication channel.
3. Effects on us Personal space
Personal space
personal space is influenced by:
genderreligionagepersonalityphysical settingculturelanguage
seating arrangements
3. Effects on us Personal space
Crowding
A personally defined subjective feeling that too many people are around. It is different from density in that density is an objective measure of the number of people per unit area. Crowding is thought to be more related to proximity of others than density.
3. Effects on us Crowding
Crowding
is influenced by:- locus of control- culture- gender- presence and behaviours of others nearby- group formation- quality of relationships- provision of information on density- architectural variations (long corridors)- sociofugal situations
3. Effects on us Crowding
Privacy
A dynamic process involving selective control over a self-boundary which changes over time and settings.
- desired privacy & achieved privacyIf both are the same the level of privacy is optimal.
functions of privacy:1. personal autonomy (self-worth, independence)2. emotional release (relax from social roles)3. self-evaluation (process of self esteem)4. limited and protected communication
3. Effects on us Privacy
Privacy
Behavioural mechanisms:- verbal- personal space- rules about territory, possessions- cultural norms- eye contact
Designing for privacy:responsive environments that allow for flexible move-ment between separateness and togetherness (leaving a door open)
3. Effects on us Privacy
concluding
3. Effects on us Concluding
No simple solutions
The environment affects us in multiple and diverse ways and we affect the environment in diverse ways.
The real question is how to design environments that do not determine, but facilitate behaviours that we never thought of.
Concluding
Enjoy the lecture series and get inspired!