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A psychological inquiry into the relationship between people and the natural environment

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.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52126
Date12 1900
CreatorsConradie, Petra Stefanie
ContributorsTheron, W. H., Naidoo, A. V., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format35 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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