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.

Soderlund, J., Newman, P. (2015). Biophilic architecture: a review of the rationale and outcomes. AIMS Environ Sci. 2(4):950–969 Evidence of the impact of biophilia on health was shown mainly in three mind-body systems: cognitive, psychological, and physiological systems; the impact on these systems was tested and explored in various ways to understand how the environment could impact a user’s health and well-being [ 10]. The results showed how each pattern can affect three main categories: stress reduction, cognitive performance, and emotion, mood, and preference. All patterns had an impact on at least one category but most of them impacted two to three categories. Framework of biophilic design patterns Krueger, R. & Gibbs, D. in The Sustainable Development Paradox: Urban Political Economy in the US and Europe (eds Krueger, R. & Gibbs, D.) 1–11 (Guilford Press, New York, 2007). Most experiments with phytoncides take place in the lab as this is necessary to isolate the compounds, so an avenue of future research would be to conduct experiments in the field but attempting to isolate phytoncides as the active element. Measurements could also be taken of the distribution of phytoncides in the environment, such as through a park or forest, or in comparison to an urban area. Experiments could also look at how far phytoncides extend from natural areas, and whether they are released in measurable quantities from different kinds of urban greenery. Hulme, M. Geographical work at the boundaries of climate change. Trans. Inst. Brit. Geogr. 33, 5–11 (2008).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).

Earth System Science for Global Sustainability: The Grand Challenges (International Council for Science, 2010). Biophilic design could be summed up into 3 main categories; each category encompasses some patterns. The main categories are as follows: nature in the space, natural analogues, and nature of the space [ 10].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]. Park, J., Conca, K. & Finger, M. The Crisis of Global Environmental Governance: Towards a New Political Economy of Sustainability (Routledge, London, 2008).

Experimental findings show how impressive nature’s healing powers can be—just a few moments of green can perk up a tired brain. In one example, Australian researchers asked students to engage in a dull, attention-draining task in which they pressed a computer key when certain numbers flashed on a screen. Students who looked out at a flowering green roof for 40 seconds midway through the task made significantly fewer mistakes than students who paused for 40 seconds to gaze at a concrete rooftop (Lee, K.E., et al., Journal of Environmental Psychology, Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015). Douglas A. Vakoch is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies as well as Director of Interstellar Message Composition at the SETI Institute. His books cover fields ranging from psychology and ecocriticism to anthropology and space sciences and include Psychology of Space Exploration: Contemporary Research in Historical Perspective (NASA, 2011); On Orbit and Beyond: Psychological Perspectives on Human Spaceflight (Springer, 2012); Ecofeminism and Rhetoric: Critical Perspectives on Sex, Technology, and Discourse (Berghahn, 2011); Feminist Ecocriticism: Environment, Women, and Literature (Lexington, 2012); Altruism in Cross-Cultural Perspective (Springer, 2013); Extraterrestrial Altruism: Evolution and Ethics in the Cosmos (Springer, 2013); and Astrobiology, History, and Society: Life Beyond Earth and the Impact of Discovery (Springer, 2013). Dr. Vakoch serves as general editor for Lexington Books’ Ecocritical Theory and Practice Series and for Springer’s Space and Society Series. He also co-edited, with Fernando Castrillon, a special double issue of the peer-reviewed journal ReVision on ecopsychology. Prior to earning a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he received an M.A. in history and philosophy of science from the University of Notre Dame, where he focused on contemporary continental philosophy of psychology. He may be reached at [email protected], telephone (415) 575-6244, Department of Clinical Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, 1453 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA; or at [email protected], telephone (650) 960-4514, Center for SETI Research, SETI Institute, 189 Bernardo Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. The natural environment is increasingly a source of interest, fascination, and affection. In a wide range of settings, both at home and abroad, I have found the breadth and intensity of such feelings to be remarkable. Yet until now there has been little material available for individuals who are attempting to understand their feelings toward nature. Though much has been written on this subject, there remains a need for a comprehensive work that is scientifically based, readable, and helpful. How does it work? What lies behind the power of environments that not only attract and are appreciated by people but are apparently able to restore hassled individuals to healthy and effective functioning?

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Some studies suggest that awe may be able to increase our critical cognitive skills. One study found that when people were induced to feel awe, they were less persuaded by weak arguments than people who did a neutral activity (imagining doing their laundry). Brondizio, E. S., Ostrom, E. & Young, O. R. Connectivity and the governance of multilevel social-ecological systems: The role of social capital. Annu. Rev. Env. Res. 34, 253–78 (2009). Hidalgo AK (2014) Biophilic design, restorative environments and well-being, 9th International Conference on Design and Emotion 2014: The Colors of Care, pp 535–544 Stern, N. The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 2007). The recent decade has shown an increase in the research and practice of biophilic design that it has been included in the green building standards. Some of the most popular texts that have been published on this topic are mentioned hereinafter: Last Child in the Woods [ 23], Healing Spaces [ 24], The Shape of Green [ 25], Your Brain on Nature [ 26], The Economics of Biophilia [ 27], and, 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design [ 10]. Biophilia definitions

Wijesooriya N, Brambilla A (2020) Bridging biophilic design and environmentally sustainable design: a critical review. J Cleaner Production 283:124591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124591 Descola, P. Prof. Philippe Descola: winner of the 2012 CNRS Golden Medal. College de France Newsletter (July, 2015). Frumkin, H. (2001). Beyond Toxicity: Human Health and the Natural Environment. Am J Prev Med Volume 20(3):34–240Mazuch R (2017) Salutogenic and biophilic design as therapeutic approaches to sustainable architecture. Architectural Design 87(2):42–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/ad.2151 Renn, J. & Laubichler, M. in Integrated History and Philosophy of Science (ed. Stadler, F.) 109–125 (Vienna Circle Institute Yearbook Vol. 20, Springer, 2017).