The present investigation is concerned with the relation between environmental factors and the ability to transfer. Although many studies in the past have shown that differences in environment result in differences in I.Q., as measured by conventional intelligence tests, there has been less research measuring environmental effects on learning and transfer abilities. The typical approachof studies which deal with either differences in intelligence, or in learning and transfer abilities, has been to select subjects from different environments and, by testing, demonstrate significant differences in the ability in question. Using this method, the results invariably favor subjects from whichever is the "better" environment in the study. The present study treats environment as an independant variable, holding I.Q. constant, and attempts to show differences in transfer ability, the dependent variable, under these conditions. On the basis of the theoretical considerations and empirical results reviewed below, it was hypothesized that, with I.Q. held constant,children raised in a "restricted" environment would show greater facility for transfer than children from a "free" environment. [...]

The purpose of this study was to extend the theoretical approach to environmental psychology set forth by Mehrabian and Russell to outpatient mental health treatment settings. Mehrabian and Russell have proposed that the effects of the physical environment on behavior are mediated by emotional responses to that environment, and that these emotional responses can be summarized by three independent and bipolar dimensions: pleasure-displeasure, arousal-non-arousal, and dominance-submissiveness.This project was accomplished in two parts. The primary emotional reactions elicited by a variety of six mental health clinics were assessed. Then, an attempt was made to determine whether physical settings as judged on the three emotional dimensions influenced clients' desire to affiliate with a counselor or therapist and their level of state anxiety. It was hypothesized that, as compared to clients in less pleasant counseling settings, those inmore pleasant counseling settings would express a greater desire to affiliate with a counselor, and would report less state anxiety.Raters utilized for evaluating the six mental health clinic environments consisted of 30 undergraduate and graduate students at Ball State University. While imagining themselves as individuals seeking counseling services for the first time, the raters first observed six slides of each of the mental health clinics, depicting the entrance, reception area, and waiting room. After viewing each set of slides, the raters responded to the emotional response scales developed by Mehrabian and Russell.The environmental ratings were compared using the Newman-Keuls method of multiple comparisons, which revealed that raters perceived a clear difference in the pleasantness-eliciting qualities of the six sites. Two sites were placed in the most pleasant grouping, three were placedin the neutrally pleasant range, and one was clearly viewed as unpleasant. Generally high item-dimension correlations provided support for the reliability of the scales.Subjects utilized in this study consisted of 40 client applicants in five of the six previously rated clinics. Efforts to obtain a larger sample were hindered by a low rate of intake in some clinics and possible reluctance by some personnel to impose additional "paperwork" on new clients. It was not possible to obtain any sample from the clinic evaluated as least pleasant. Prior to their initial interview with a therapist, subjects responded to Mehrabian and Russell's two question desire to affiliate questionnaire and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Overall, subjects expressed a moderate level of desire to affiliate and a high level of state anxiety.Data were analyzed by two multiple, linear regression equations, utilizing desire to affiliate and state anxiety as criterion variables, and using pleasure, arousal, 'dominance, sex, and age as predictor variables. The results failed to support the hypotheses. Only one of the predictor variables was found to explain a significant amount of the variance on desire to affiliate. Client sex accounted for 17.1% of the variance (p <.05), indicating that male clients in this study expressed a greater desire to affiliate with a counselor compared to female clients. It was speculated that because fewer men were seeking psychological services, they may have been a small self-selected group who were more highly prepared than others to share their concerns with a therapist. None of the predictor variables were found to account for a significant amount of the variance on state anxiety.The interpretability of the results was hampered by the relatively small sample size, and by the non-inclusion of data from a site clearly rated as unpleasant. Also, since most previous research on environmental effects was not done in mental health treatment settings, it is conceivable that a population suffering from emotional or psychological problems may actually react differently to environmental conditions compared to the general populace.

This study was concerned with selecting methods drawn from ecology and ethology that could be applied to evaluating the behaviour of people in downtown public places. Time-sampling and behavioural mapping proved to be useful objective methods of observing and recording people's activities in four public places in Vancouver, British Columbia. Information on user activities was applied to evaluate the relationship between behaviour and the physical environment in a park, a square and two plazas. In each place there were examples of the impact of environmental factors such as sun direction, shadow patterns, wind tunnels, and edge conditions on the location and the intensity of user activities. Too often the design of urban spaces has not been sympathetic to the reactions of people to their surroundings. This inadequacy has brought about a lack of use of these spaces. Traditional techniques of behavioural research have not been able to improve this situation. The observational approach developed here is capable of providing objective information on the ways in which physical surroundings affect people's activities. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

No description available.

Thesis (M.Arch)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1977. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH / 2 leaves numbered 102. / Bibliography : leaves 150-151. / by Barbara Putnam. / M.Arch

The lack of knowledge concerning the relationships between the physical environment and people's behavior was discussed in relation to the inadequacy of today's architectural programming. Possible applications of man-environment studies were suggested. Nature of the environmental information was analyzed, and a term 'cognitive distance' was defined. Essential variables that affect the construction of the mental map and the perception of distance were derived primarily from previous studies. The city of Vancouver was analyzed utilizing methods originated by K. Lynch, and a survey was conducted in the city to examine relations between the various variables and the perception of distance. The type of the distance examined was 'inward (toward downtown)’, 'ego-centric', and urban scale(4 mile) 'cognitive distance'. Results: Following four variables seemed to have effects on the perception of distance; sex, age, mode of transportation, and the score on 'Thing-orientation scale'. Male tended to be more accurate in their estimations (or to estimate the particular distance of 4 mile as being shifter) than female Ss. Ss aged over 20, or car drivers, or Ss with higher T-scores were also more accurate than younger Ss, or bus riders or car passengers, or Ss with lower T-scores, respectively. Concerning the possible effects on perception by physical variables, our results were unclear mainly due to the differing characteristics of the Ss at the four locations. Implications of results were discussed. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of / Graduate

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1960 S77

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to explore the underlying mechanisms inherent to the interaction between human beings and the natural environment. Using an exploratory approach, the study aimed to uncover conceptual understandings of the Ecotherapy process. As a platform for deeper investigation, the metaphor as a narrative symbol presented by participants was offered for interpretation. Using the transcript of an anonymous participant's experience during an ecotherapy trail, four trained ecotherapy facilitators from the National Peace Accord Trust provided open interpretations of the underlying mechanisms of the process. From an analysis of selected excerpts presented by participating facilitators, key themes are introduced and discussed as source of interest for future research. Predominant themes that emerge from the study are the significance of symbolism, the notion of embodiment, the continuum in the process of connection as well as existence of a spiritual dimensions to the healing process in the natural environment. A number of the shortcomings of previous research, as well as within this investigation are discussed. This study suggests that there is a definite need for further qualitative and emperical investigation of the ecotherapy process as a therapeutic intervention. The findings of this study are intended both as a platform for future research initiatives as well as a resource for ecotherapy facilitators and participants. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die onderliggende meganismes inherent aan die interaksie tussen die mens en die natuurlike omgewing te ondersoek. Die studie het beaag om met 'n eksploratiewe benadering die konseptuele beginsels van die Ekoterapie proses bloot te lê. As vertrekpunt is die metafoer, soss beskrywe deur die deelnemers, as narratiewe simbool beskou vir meer dieperliggende interpretasie. Die transkripsies van die deelnemers se ervarings gedurende die ekoterapeutiese staptog is deur vier professionele ekoterapeutiese fasiliteerders van die "National Peace Accord Trust" geïnterpreteerom die onderliggende meganismes van die proses te identifiseer. As verwysingsbron vir verdere navorsing is die gereduseerde opsommings van die betrokke fasiliteerders geanaliseer, sentrale temas geïdentifiseer en bespreek. Sentrale temas wat uit die studie na vore gekom het, was die betekenisvolheid van simboliek, die besef van liggaamlikheid, die kontinuum in die proses van konneksie-vorming, sowel as die voorkoms van spirituele dimensies geduurende die helingsproses in die natuurlike omgewing. Tekortkominge van vorige, sowel as die huidige navorsing, is ook aangespreek. Dit blyk uit die studie dat In defnitiewe behoefte aan verdere kwalitatiewe en empmese navorsing rondom die ekoterapie proses as terapeutiese intervensie, bestaan. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie behoort te dien as 'n vertrekpunt vir toekomstige navorsing, sowel as 'n verwysingsbron vir ekoterapeutiese fasiliteerders en deelnemers.

Thesis (Msc)--Stellenbosch University, 2001 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There has been a growing awareness of nature among psychologists in recent years, both in terms of how psychology can contribute to the preservation of nature, and utilise its benefits for human beings. In this paper both these aspects of the human-nature relationship are explored. The sense of connectedness between people and nature appears to be the common ground between these two approaches, and it is recommended that experiential as well as cognitive elements of the relationship should be recognised. A limited qualitative pilot study was conducted with five participants of a weekend wilderness experience. All the participants were female first year psychology students. Confirming previous research, this study found that the experience of nature is highly individualised, and includes heightened self-awareness, relaxation, social relationships, spiritual elements, and a sense of connectedness to nature. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sielkundiges raak toenemend bewus van die natuur, in terme van die wyses waarop sielkunde kan bydra tot die beskerming van die omgewing, asook waarop die voordele wat dit vir die mens inhou, benut kan word. Beide aspekte van die verhouding tussen mens en natuur word in hierdie studie ondersoek. Die noue verbintenis tussen mens en natuur blyk die onderliggende faktor tot beide benaderings te wees, en dit word aanbeveel dat die eksperiënsiële sowel as kognitiewe elemente van hierdie verhouding in ag geneem moet word. 'n Beperkte kwalitatiewe loods-studie is uitgevoer met vyf deelnemers van 'n wildemes-ervaring, almal vroulike eerste-jaar sielkunde studente. In ooreenstemming met vorige navorsing het hierdie studie bevind dat die ervaring van die natuur hoogs geïndividualiseerd is, en verhoogde self-gewaarwording, ontspanning, sosiale verhoudings, spirituale elemente, en 'n sin van verbintenis aan die natuur, insluit.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Research literature is increasingly referring to the therapeutic effect of experiences in nature on people. However, no research that evaluates the suitability of nature as an aid in an existential approach to psychotherapy could be found. This paper shows by means of a literature review that nature as an aid can make a significant contribution to this approach. The potential benefits of utilizing nature are integrated with the therapeutic goals of existential psychotherapy. The conclusion reached is that nature can be an important aid for leading a client to self-confrontation, increased selfawareness, acceptance of personal freedom and responsibility, and to find personal meaning in life. Proposals for future research are recommended. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsingsliteratuur bevat in 'n toenemende mate verwysings na die terapeutiese effek wat belewenisse in die natuur op mense het. Geen navorsing kon egter gevind word wat die geskiktheid van die natuur as 'n hulpmiddel in 'n eksistensiële benadering tot psigoterapie ondersoek nie. Hierdie studie toon deur middel van 'n literatuuroorsig aan dat die natuur wel as 'n hulpmiddel betekenisvolle bydraes kan lewer tot hierdie benadering, deur die potensiële bydrae van die natuur in verband te bring met die doelwitte van eksistensiële psigoterapie. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat die natuur 'n belangrike hulpmiddel kan wees om die kliënt te lei na selfkonfrontasie, verhoogde selfbewussyn, aanvaarding van persoonlike vryheid en verantwoordelikheid, en die vind van persoonlike betekenis in die lewe. Aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing word ook gemaak.