MEETING 1
Wohwill (1970): The emerging discipline of environmental psychology
Main issues
- Environmental psychology is a response to concern about quality of the environment.
- Environmental psychology is problem oriented, applied, cooperating in multidisciplinary projects.
- Environmental psychology has unique potential to ask new questions.
Wohlwill: man-environment relations
Three forms of relationship between person and physical environment:
1. Environment guides and constrains behavior: barriers, compatibility, ‘fit’ instrumentality.
2. Long term exposure to general conditions may exert generalized effects: e.g., urban life style as
a function of crowding (e.g. (not-) helping behavior); working day rhythm as a function of climate.
3. Behavior is oriented toward environment; environment is focal.
Wohwill: environment and affect
1. Affect evoked by stimulus characteristics (complexity, diversity, novelty, category etc. e.g. why
do you like an environment?)
2. Environment determines approach and avoidance reactions (moving, migrating, holiday
destinations).
3. Adaptation (‘’man is at once a seeker and neutralizer of stimulation).
When the article was published, not many psychologists were yet involved in the topic.
Three forms of the interrelationship between behavior and environment
- Behavior is related to characteristics and attributes of the physical environment.
1. Behavior always occurs in some particular environmental context, and frequently serves to
determine in a more positive sense particular aspects or patterns of an individual’s behavior.
Because behavior occurs in a given type of space, the manner in which the spatial
environment itself is constructed or modified to accord with an individual’s preferences,
values, etc., becomes itself an important subject for study.
Has received the most concentrated attention.
2. Certain qualities of the environment may have generalized effects on broader systems of
response within the individual (e.g. under- or overstimulation, climate etc.), on behavior and
personality. Example: diseases can be linked to pollution.
Least studies and least well-known. It cannot be investigated in a controlled laboratory
experimentation. Because of problems related to control and isolation.
3. Behavior is in a variety of ways instigated by and directed at particular attributes and
characteristics of the physical environment development of diverse forms of adjustment
and adaptation to environmental conditions.
Exhibition of temporary (e.g. tourism) and permanent (e.g. migration) responses of
approach to and avoidance or escape from given environmental situations.
Easiest to analyze and has most direct links with the most urgent and publicized
environmental problems.
Then the article states three specific facets of the interrelationship. These will be discussed
now: affective and attitudinal responses to present environmental attributes; approach and
Wohwill (1970): The emerging discipline of environmental psychology
Main issues
- Environmental psychology is a response to concern about quality of the environment.
- Environmental psychology is problem oriented, applied, cooperating in multidisciplinary projects.
- Environmental psychology has unique potential to ask new questions.
Wohlwill: man-environment relations
Three forms of relationship between person and physical environment:
1. Environment guides and constrains behavior: barriers, compatibility, ‘fit’ instrumentality.
2. Long term exposure to general conditions may exert generalized effects: e.g., urban life style as
a function of crowding (e.g. (not-) helping behavior); working day rhythm as a function of climate.
3. Behavior is oriented toward environment; environment is focal.
Wohwill: environment and affect
1. Affect evoked by stimulus characteristics (complexity, diversity, novelty, category etc. e.g. why
do you like an environment?)
2. Environment determines approach and avoidance reactions (moving, migrating, holiday
destinations).
3. Adaptation (‘’man is at once a seeker and neutralizer of stimulation).
When the article was published, not many psychologists were yet involved in the topic.
Three forms of the interrelationship between behavior and environment
- Behavior is related to characteristics and attributes of the physical environment.
1. Behavior always occurs in some particular environmental context, and frequently serves to
determine in a more positive sense particular aspects or patterns of an individual’s behavior.
Because behavior occurs in a given type of space, the manner in which the spatial
environment itself is constructed or modified to accord with an individual’s preferences,
values, etc., becomes itself an important subject for study.
Has received the most concentrated attention.
2. Certain qualities of the environment may have generalized effects on broader systems of
response within the individual (e.g. under- or overstimulation, climate etc.), on behavior and
personality. Example: diseases can be linked to pollution.
Least studies and least well-known. It cannot be investigated in a controlled laboratory
experimentation. Because of problems related to control and isolation.
3. Behavior is in a variety of ways instigated by and directed at particular attributes and
characteristics of the physical environment development of diverse forms of adjustment
and adaptation to environmental conditions.
Exhibition of temporary (e.g. tourism) and permanent (e.g. migration) responses of
approach to and avoidance or escape from given environmental situations.
Easiest to analyze and has most direct links with the most urgent and publicized
environmental problems.
Then the article states three specific facets of the interrelationship. These will be discussed
now: affective and attitudinal responses to present environmental attributes; approach and
