Introduction to Environmental Psychology
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate in Theoretical Foundations of Environmental Psychology (Italy) course at London School of Business and Administration. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Affective Experience refers to the emotional and subjective experiences t… #
Related terms include emotional experience, subjective experience, and environmental perception. Affective experience is a crucial concept in environmental psychology, as it helps understand how people form emotional bonds with their surroundings and how these bonds impact their behavior and decision-making processes.
Affordance is a concept that refers to the potential uses or actions that an env… #
Related terms include perceived affordance, environmental affordance, and behavioral affordance. Affordance is an important concept in environmental psychology, as it helps understand how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment influences their behavior.
Anthropocentrism is a philosophical perspective that views human beings a… #
Related terms include human-centered design, anthropocentric approach, and environmental anthropocentrism. Anthropocentrism is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how they prioritize their needs and interests.
Architectural design refers to the process of creating and planning built… #
Related terms include environmental design, sustainable design, and human-centered design. Architectural design is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it affects how people experience and interact with their built environment, and how the built environment influences their behavior and well-being.
Attention Restoration Theory (ART) is a theoretical framework that explai… #
Related terms include restorative environments, nature experience, and cognitive functioning. ART is an essential concept in environmental psychology, as it helps understand the benefits of spending time in nature and how it can improve human health and well-being.
Biophilia is a concept that refers to the innate human tendency to seek c… #
Related terms include biophilic design, nature experience, and environmental connection. Biophilia is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how they prioritize their needs and interests.
Biophilic design refers to the incorporation of natural elements a… #
Related terms include green architecture, sustainable design, and environmental design. Biophilic design is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it affects how people experience and interact with their built environment, and how the built environment influences their behavior and well-being.
Built Environment refers to the human #
made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, including buildings, spaces, and infrastructure. Related terms include physical environment, urban environment, and human-made environment. The built environment is a crucial concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people experience and interact with their surroundings, and how the environment affects their behavior and well-being.
Cognitive map refers to the mental representation of an environment that… #
Related terms include mental map, cognitive mapping, and environmental perception. Cognitive maps are essential in environmental psychology, as they help understand how people navigate and interact with their environment, and how the environment influences their behavior and decision-making.
Cognitive processing refers to the mental processes that occur when an in… #
Related terms include information processing, attention, and memory. Cognitive processing is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their behavior and well-being.
Community engagement refers to the process of involving and empowering… #
Related terms include public participation, community involvement, and environmental governance. Community engagement is an essential concept in environmental psychology, as it helps build trust and cooperation between community members and environmental stakeholders.
Conservation behavior refers to the actions taken by individuals to prote… #
Related terms include environmental behavior, sustainable behavior, and pro-environmental behavior. Conservation behavior is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people interact with their environment, and how their behavior affects the health of the planet.
Contextual factor refers to the external or environmental factors… #
Related terms include situational factor, environmental factor, and social context. Contextual factors are crucial in environmental psychology, as they affect how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment influences their behavior and well-being.
Crowding refers to the perceived density of people in a given environment… #
Related terms include overcrowding, density, and social density. Crowding is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it affects how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment influences their behavior and well-being.
Cultural landscape refers to the human #
made and natural features of an environment that reflect the cultural and historical context of a community. Related terms include cultural heritage, historical landscape, and environmental identity. Cultural landscapes are essential in environmental psychology, as they influence how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their identity and well-being.
Decision #
making process refers to the cognitive and behavioral processes that occur when an individual makes a choice or decision about their environment. Related terms include rational choice, behavioral decision-making, and environmental decision-making. Decision-making processes are critical in environmental psychology, as they influence how people interact with their environment, and how their behavior affects the health of the planet.
Ecological footprint refers to the impact of human activity on the nat… #
Related terms include environmental impact, sustainability, and ecological sustainability. Ecological footprints are essential in environmental psychology, as they influence how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how their behavior affects the health of the planet.
Emotional experience refers to the subjective and emotional aspect… #
Related terms include affective experience, emotional response, and environmental perception. Emotional experiences are crucial in environmental psychology, as they influence how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Environmental awareness refers to the knowledge and understanding … #
Related terms include environmental knowledge, ecological awareness, and sustainability awareness. Environmental awareness is essential in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how their behavior affects the health of the planet.
Environmental behavior refers to the actions taken by individuals to prot… #
Related terms include conservation behavior, sustainable behavior, and pro-environmental behavior. Environmental behavior is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people interact with their environment, and how their behavior affects the health of the planet.
Environmental design refers to the process of creating and planning envir… #
Related terms include architectural design, sustainable design, and human-centered design. Environmental design is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it affects how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment influences their behavior and well-being.
Environmental education refers to the process of teaching and learning ab… #
Related terms include environmental awareness, ecological education, and sustainability education. Environmental education is essential in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how their behavior affects the health of the planet.
Environmental identity refers to the sense of self and belonging t… #
Related terms include place identity, environmental self, and cultural identity. Environmental identity is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Environmental justice refers to the fair and equitable distributio… #
Related terms include environmental equity, social justice, and human rights. Environmental justice is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Environmental perception refers to the way people perceive and … #
Related terms include cognitive map, environmental cognition, and perceptual process. Environmental perception is essential in environmental psychology, as it influences how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their behavior and well-being.
Environmental policy refers to the laws, regulations, and guidelines</… #
Related terms include environmental governance, sustainability policy, and conservation policy. Environmental policy is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people interact with their environment, and how their behavior affects the health of the planet.
Environmental psychology refers to the study of the relationship between… #
Related terms include ecological psychology, conservation psychology, and sustainability psychology. Environmental psychology is a critical concept in the field, as it aims to understand how people perceive, interact with, and impact their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Environmental values refer to the beliefs and attitudes tha… #
Related terms include ecological values, conservation values, and sustainability values. Environmental values are essential in environmental psychology, as they influence how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how their behavior affects the health of the planet.
Eudaimonic well #
being refers to the state of being that results from living a meaningful and fulfilling life, including a sense of purpose and connection to others and the environment. Related terms include hedonic well-being, subjective well-being, and psychological well-being. Eudaimonic well-being is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Green architecture refers to the design and construction of buildings tha… #
Related terms include sustainable architecture, eco-friendly design, and environmental design. Green architecture is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it affects how people experience and interact with their built environment, and how the built environment influences their behavior and well-being.
Green space refers to the areas of natural or semi #
natural vegetation in urban environments, which provide recreational and ecological benefits. Related terms include urban park, green area, and open space. Green spaces are essential in environmental psychology, as they influence how people experience and interact with their urban environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Hedonic well #
being refers to the state of being that results from experiencing pleasure and enjoyment in life, including the satisfaction of basic needs and desires. Related terms include eudaimonic well-being, subjective well-being, and psychological well-being. Hedonic well-being is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Human #
centered design refers to the process of creating and planning environments that prioritize human needs and experiences. Related terms include user-centered design, participatory design, and inclusive design. Human-centered design is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it affects how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment influences their behavior and well-being.
Human #
nature relationship refers to the complex and dynamic interactions between humans and the natural environment, including the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Related terms include environmental relationship, ecological relationship, and sustainability relationship. The human-nature relationship is a fundamental concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Landscape perception refers to the way people perceive and inte… #
Related terms include environmental perception, cognitive map, and perceptual process. Landscape perception is essential in environmental psychology, as it influences how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their behavior and well-being.
Natural environment refers to the physical and biological componen… #
Related terms include built environment, human-made environment, and anthropogenic environment. The natural environment is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Nature experience refers to the direct and indirect experiences th… #
Related terms include environmental experience, outdoor experience, and ecological experience. Nature experiences are essential in environmental psychology, as they influence how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Noise pollution refers to the unwanted and excessive sounds that c… #
Related terms include air pollution, water pollution, and environmental pollution. Noise pollution is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it affects how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment influences their behavior and well-being.
Person #
environment fit refers to the degree of compatibility between an individual's needs and preferences and the characteristics of their environment. Related terms include environmental fit, person environment fit, and human environment fit. Person-environment fit is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Place attachment refers to the emotional and psychological bonds t… #
Related terms include place identity, environmental attachment, and community attachment. Place attachment is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Place identity refers to the sense of self and belonging that peop… #
Related terms include environmental identity, community identity, and cultural identity. Place identity is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Pro #
environmental behavior refers to the actions taken by individuals to protect and preserve the natural environment. Related terms include environmental behavior, conservation behavior, and sustainable behavior. Pro-environmental behavior is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people interact with their environment, and how their behavior affects the health of the planet.
Restorative environments refer to the natural or built environment… #
Related terms include nature experience, outdoor experience, and ecological experience. Restorative environments are essential in environmental psychology, as they influence how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Risk perception refers to the way people perceive and interpret… #
Related terms include environmental risk, health risk, and safety risk. Risk perception is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their behavior and well-being.
Satisfaction refers to the positive emotions and experiences that… #
Related terms include happiness, well-being, and quality of life. Satisfaction is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Sustainable behavior refers to the actions taken by individuals to reduce… #
Related terms include pro-environmental behavior, conservation behavior, and environmental behavior. Sustainable behavior is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people interact with their environment, and how their behavior affects the health of the planet.
Sustainable development refers to the process of meeting human nee… #
Related terms include environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and economic sustainability. Sustainable development is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Urban ecology refers to the study of the relationships between human</… #
Related terms include urban environment, human ecology, and ecological urbanism. Urban ecology is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people experience and interact with their urban environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Urban planning refers to the process of designing and managing urban</… #
Related terms include urban design, city planning, and environmental planning. Urban planning is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people experience and interact with their urban environment, and how the environment affects their well-being and behavior.
Visual pollution refers to the unwanted and excessive visual stimu… #
. Related terms include noise pollution, air pollution, and environmental pollution. Visual pollution is a significant concept in environmental psychology, as it affects how people experience and interact with their environment, and how the environment influences their behavior and well-being.
Well #
being refers to the state of being that results from experiencing happiness, health, and satisfaction in life, including the fulfillment of needs and desires. Related terms include quality of life, happiness, and life satisfaction. Well-being is a critical concept in environmental psychology, as it influences how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how the environment affects their behavior and well-being.