Environmental Psychology: definition, applications and approaches

In recent decades, the popularity of environmental psychology, which analyzes the relationship between people and the environment, whether it is natural or created by being human. In this article we will define environmental psychology and describe its main applications and approaches theoretical and practical.

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Environmental psychology: definition and object of study

Environmental psychology is an interdisciplinary theoretical and applied field that deals with studying the interaction between human beings and the environment in which they are found. The main focus is on the psychological and behavioral variables that are associated with this relationship.

The object of interest of environmental psychology is broad, as can be deduced from its definition. Any context can be analyzed from the perspective of the relationship between people and the environment, such as Effects of the design of a school classroom on academic performance or the creation of programs to promote sustainable consumption.

Environmental psychology tries to find ways to predict how certain variables of people and the physical environment will influence the interaction between the two in order to optimize it. Although in many cases this discipline it has an ethical component and oriented to the solution of global problems, has many possible uses, such as the business environment.

The fact that this field of study includes many different (and often opposing) sciences and interests has made it difficult to unite. Although in any discipline different ideologies and points of view coexist on what should be shared goals, conflicts of this kind are especially notable in psychology environmental.

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Applications of this discipline

The relevance of environmental psychology has been increasing due to the growing need to increase awareness and collective and institutional action against the deterioration of the planet. This is why in the last 50 years there has been an intense relationship between environmental psychology and environmental movements.

Another application of environmental psychology is the design of architectural environments that enhance the psychological well-being of the people who are in them or who promote certain behaviors. For example, there are both urban designs focused on reducing stress and shopping centers that favor consumption.

From the point of view of improving people's well-being, environmental psychology can be useful to the population especially from the public sector, in which planning and investment in social projects is more possible. In this sense, both urban planning and other environmental aspects, such as transport or educational centers, are relevant.

In the field of organizations, the knowledge obtained by environmental psychology can be used to maximize worker productivity or well-being. Modifying work environments is one of the most common applications of environmental psychology, which is a good example of the breadth of this discipline.

Theoretical and practical approaches

In environmental psychology, different methodological and conceptual approaches coexist, although in general they are complementary. Let's see what are the characteristics of these theoretical-practical orientations.

1. Resolution of environmental problems

The most common scheme of action in the field of environmental psychology begins with the identification of problems in a specific environment, often but not necessarily with a particular focus on the role of the human being. A plan to fix the problem is then developed, implemented, monitored, and errors corrected.

This field is closely related to the movements that defend the environment. Some of the problems that are most frequently intervened are the improvement of living conditions in disadvantaged environments, control of environmental pollution levels in urban centers and prevention of forest degradation or other means.

2. Systems perspective

Systems-focused environmental psychology analyzes the relevant social and psychological factors in a specific area; it is often used in social integration programs. In this context, systems can be understood as human groups but also include other elements found in the same environment.

3. Spatiotemporal orientation

This approach focuses on determining how certain factors from the past influenced problems that occur today in a specific place. It is also common to analyze the evolution of one or more variables over time, as would happen when studying the relationship between population density and air pollution.

4. Interdisciplinary approach

The knowledge and methods of environmental psychology are integrated with those of many other disciplines, both within psychology and outside of it. Thus, we can highlight the relationship of this field with organizational, cognitive or psychology of the development, in addition to architecture, interior design, sociology, economics or politics.