The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective

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Taste remains highly neglected in the context of nature experiences, and some interesting research avenues might include clinical studies on the emotional effects of eating processed versus natural foods, ability to distinguish between processed and natural food, and cognitive effects of diet. According to Jonah Paquette, experiencing awe involves two components, vastness and transcendence. Vastness happens when we see something like a spectacular view or sunset, or are exposed to a concept such as the the infinite size of the universe, that is too incredible to fit into our current worldview, forcing us to expand our understanding of what is possible. Transcendence happens when we take in this new, awe-inspiring experience and try to make sense of it.

Norton, B. C. Sustainability: A Philosophy of Adaptive Ecosystem Management (Univ. Chicago Press, Chicago, 2005). Later, in 2015, the principles of biophilic design were introduced in the book ‘The Practice of Biophilic Design’ [ 38]. These principles were repeated engagement with nature, focusing on human adaptations to the natural world, encouraging emotional attachment to specific places, promoting positive interactions between people and nature, and encouraging interconnected and incorporated architecture solutions. Also, the experience of nature was grouped into three types: direct experience of nature, indirect experience of nature, and the experience of space and place [ 38]. Categories and patterns of biophilic design There is mounting evidence, from dozens and dozens of researchers, that nature has benefits for both physical and psychological human well­being,” says Lisa Nisbet, PhD, a psychologist at Trent University in Ontario, Canada, who studies connectedness to nature. “You can boost your mood just by walking in nature, even in urban nature. And the sense of connection you have with the natural world seems to contribute to happiness even when you’re not physically immersed in nature.” Cognitive benefitsResearchers have proposed a number of ideas to explain such findings, as Nisbet and colleagues described in a review of the benefits of connection with nature (Capaldi, C.A., et al., International Journal of Wellbeing, Vol. 5, No. 4, 2015). The biophilia hypothesis argues that since our ancestors evolved in wild settings and relied on the environment for survival, we have an innate drive to connect with nature. The stress reduction hypothesis posits that spending time in nature triggers a physiological response that lowers stress levels. A third idea, attention restoration theory, holds that nature replenishes one’s cognitive resources, restoring the ability to concentrate and pay attention. Browning W, Ryan C, Clancy J (2014) 14 Patterns of biophilic design, Terrapin Bright Green, LLC, pp 1–60 Tsunetsugu, Y. & Y. Miyazaki (2005). Measurement of Absolute Hemoglobin Concentrations of Prefrontal Region by Near-Infrared Time-ResolvedSpectroscopy: Examples of Experiments and Prospects. J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci 24(4) Speth, J. G. The Bridge at the End of the World: Capitalism, the Environment, and Crossing from Crisis to Sustainability (Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, 2008).

This book presents a long career of research of the Kaplans on what was then a budding field of environmental psychology as they aim to discover why natural environments are healthy for the psyche and which characteristics of natural scenery are most appealing. Another recent study found that people who are more naturally prone to experiencing awe felt more humility and were rated as more humble by their friends. Kellert, S. R. C., Elizabeth F. (2015). The Practice of Biophilic Design. Retrieved from www.biophilicdesign.com But there’s an important caveat, White adds: “If you have a break from work and you’ve only got half an hour, then a wild remote place is no use to you at all.” Urban parks and trees also produce positive outcomes. Just like a little exercise is better than none, we should take­ advantage of green and blue spaces wherever and whenever we can. That’s easier said than done, though, especially for people at a socioeconomic disadvantage. Poorer neighborhoods, White notes, are seldom the ones with leafy groves and ocean views. Hulme, M. Problems with making and governing global kinds of knowledge. Glob. Env. Change 20, 558–564 (2010).

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World Commission on Environment and Development Our Common Future (Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 1987). It has repeatedly been shown that the sounds of nature such as wind, water, and animals, are preferred over anthropogenic sounds such as traffic, recreational noise, and industrial noise [ 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45]. With respect to perceived restorativeness, rural soundscapes and botanical gardens were preferred over urban park soundscapes, which were preferred over urban soundscapes [ 46]. Preferred environments have been found to be correlated with restorative potential [ 47, 48], so the existence of positive preferences for nature sounds implies, though does not demonstrate, that they might themselves be restorative. Indeed, bird sounds have been found to increase recovery of skin conductance level, a measure of stress [ 49], and visitors to a local river cited the sound of water as a reason to visit a local river for its relaxing effects [ 50]. The Human-nature connection : biophilic design in a mixed-use, multi-unit residential development by Natalie Rogers Foidart A practicum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfilment of the requirements o. (2010). Vogel, C., Moser, S. C., Kasperson, R. E. & Dabelko, G. D. Linking vulnerability, adaptation, and resilience science to practice: pathways, players, and partnerships. Glob. Env. Change 17, 349–364 (2007).