8 Environmental Psycholog Flashcards by Trisha Escoton

new branch of psychology which explores how the
environment impacts human behavior and vice-versa.

Environmental Psychology

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Two Branches of Environmental Psychology

Conservative Psychology
Ecopsychology

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focus on the natural environment and changing attitudes and behaviors with the aim of conservation of the natural ecosystems by fostering an environmental ethic.

Conservative Psychology

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relationship between environmental and societal
degradation wherein human well-being depends on the
environment, and focuses on healing of both the human society and nature.

Ecopsychology

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the process of apprehending features of the immediate
physical environment through sensory input.

Environmental Perception

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What are the conventional approaches to perception

Stimulus
Sensation
Perception

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The energy external to the individual which activates our sense organs.

Stimulus

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Stimulus is strong enough to activate the receptor cells, which are specific forms of energy.

Sensation

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Recognizing, organizing, interpreting, and analyzing a pattern out of the sensations.

Perception

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What are the perspectives of perception?

Constructivist
Structuralism
Functionalism

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● Perceptions are constructed from sensations and from long term memory with similar sensations.
● Based on texture, size, color and pattern we are able to recognize various objects like table, chairs.

Constructivist

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● Based on the role of physiological structure in the brain responsible for producing perceptions.
● Involved perception is based on comparison of our past memory with newly experienced stimuli.

Structuralism

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● Based on the notion that the perceptual processes are based on the necessity of an organism to get along with the environment.
● Example, people compare present sensations with the past ones to derive conclusions regarding food, shelter or danger.

Functionalism

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TRUE OR FALSE:

Our ability to conduct various activities and affairs of our daily lives is not dependent to a large extent on how we perceive our physical surroundings.

FALSE

“is dependent…”

Our ability to conduct various activities and affairs of our daily lives is dependent to a large extent on how we perceive our physical surroundings.

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TRUE OR FALSE:

The environmental perception deals with the process through which the individual organizes the real world stimulation and derives a cohesive, meaningful and integrated picture of the real world setting.

TRUE

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TRUE OR FALSE:

The sum of its parts are greater than the whole. The
principles of proximity and closure enable the individual to perceive distinctive stimuli in a collective and holistic pattern.

FALSE

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The
principles of proximity and closure enable the individual to perceive distinctive stimuli in a collective and holistic
pattern.

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TRUE OR FALSE:

Environmental perception extends beyond simple
observation to exploration from different vantage points.

TRUE

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TRUE OR FALSE:

The knowledge gained through perceptual experiences about the new environment is abundant and comprises peripheral information.

FALSE

“comprises both central and peripheral information.”

The knowledge gained through perceptual experiences about the new environment is abundant and comprises both central and peripheral information.

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TRUE OR FALSE:

When an individual encounters the environment he actively explores, sorts and categorizes the inputs, which he receives from his actions in the said environment, which is
random and upurposefully directed.

FALSE
“not random but purposefully directed.”

When an individual encounters the environment he actively explores, sorts and categorizes the inputs, which he receives from his actions in the said environment, which is
not random but purposefully directed.

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● encompasses the mental processes involved in thinking about space, like recognizing positions in an
environment or shapes of objects.
● how individuals perceive, remember, and mentally
organize spatial aspects of their surroundings.

Spatial Cognition

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Two Types of Spatial Cognition?

Navigation-relevant Cognition
Object-focused Cognition

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-involves finding the way around the world to gather food, and drink, find social partners, avoid dangers, and return home and is prerequisite to survival for all mobile organisms.
-involves understanding and moving through spaces, crucial for survival.

Navigation-relevant Cognition

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● involves representing the shape and structure of objects and anticipating their appearance after physical or mental transformation, such as rotation, cutting, or folding.
● closely related to tool invention and tool use and is likely more specific to humans than is navigation, although tool has also been documented in primates and corvids.
● involves recognizing shapes and manipulating objects linked to tool use and unique human capabilities.

Object-focused Cognition

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The thinking necessary for finding the way in the world.

Navigation-relevant Cognition

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the landmarks that provide external reference points for encoding location.

Allocentric Frameworks

involves tracking where one is by encoding distance and direction from bodily cues.

Inertial Navigation

the representation of the shape and structure of objects and the ability to manipulate and transform these representations in a variety of ways, such as rotating or folding.

Object-focused Cognition

representations of an array of objects in an environment using a common framework and allowing for charting detours and shortcuts.

Cognitive Maps

is imagining turning an object in three-dimensional space.

Visual Imagery

imagining objects moving or oneself moving in an environment

Spatial Imagery

representations of an array of objects in an environment in which local relations are represented as distances and directions if experienced, but there is no common framework allowing for inferences

Cognitive Graphs

the theory that thinking does not involve representations but instead involves interior perception-action linkages

Embodied Cognition

global security threat, displacing millions and disrupting resources. Like weapons of mass destruction, it poses serious risks to global stability and human well-being.

Climate Change

Climate change causes grief, anxiety, and loss by disrupting ties to people and places through displacement, poverty, and disasters (Doherty & Clayton, 2011)Climate change causes grief, anxiety, and loss by disrupting ties to people and places through displacement, poverty, and disasters (Doherty & Clayton, 2011)

Displacement and Trauma

Climate change increases aggression and violence, with hotter temperatures linked to more conflicts, domestic violence, and short-term anger.

Climate and Conflct

TRUE OR FALSE: Public opinion on climate change are often influenced by personal experiences rather than scientific data.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE Misinformation is about media framing often leads the public to doubt the strong scientific consensus on climate change.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Motivated Reasoning is about how people resist acknowledging climate change to justify familiar behaviors and avoid discomfort.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE Media messages and perceived scientific disagreements fuel climate change skepticism. Framing, optimism bias, and system justification reinforce resistance to change.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: New Technologies is not one of the components in a sustainable future.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE: Immediate feedback on energy use and social comparisons motivate individuals to reduce consumption.Ex. installing "smart meters" that provide a continuous readout of electricity use and its cost to encourage greener homes and businesses

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE People are less likely to adopt sustainable behaviors if they align with their social identity and values

FALSE "more likely" People are more likely to adopt sustainable behaviors if they align with their social identity and values

development that meets present needs without compromising future generations abilities to meet their needs.

Sustainable Development (definition from British Government)

TRUE OR FALSE Social Psychology's contribute will not be able to help influence behaviors which does not enable people to live within environmental limits and to enjoy personal and social well-being.

FALSE Social psychology's contribution will help influence behaviors that enable people to live within environmental limits and to enjoy personal and social well-being.

the belief that having money and possessions is the most important thing in life. (Cambridge) a value system that prioritizes the acquisition and ownership of material goods as a means to achieve happiness, success, and self-worth. It's more than just a penchant for shopping; it's a mindset that equates possessions with personal value and ful

Materialism

What are the factors contributing to increased materialism?

1. Consumer Culture and Social 2. Peer Pressure and Social Influence 3. Economic Systems and Marketing Strategies

TRUE OR FALSE The rise of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok did not amplified materialistic values by showcasing luxurious lifestyles and creating pressure to acquire similar possessions.

FALSE The rise of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok has amplified materialistic values by showcasing luxurious lifestyles and creating pressure to acquire similar possessions.

TRUE OR FALSE Friends, family, and social circles can create a sense of competition and desire to keep up with others' lifestyles, leading individuals to prioritize material possessions to gain acceptance and status.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE Modern economic systems and aggressive marketing tactics stimulate constant consumer demand. Companies use targeted advertising and psychological strategies to create a perceived need for the latest products, reinforcing the idea that happiness and success are linked to material goods.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE Materialism is often linked to higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. When people prioritize material possessions over other aspects of life, such as relationships and personal growth, they may experience feelings of happiness and euphoria.

FALSE Materialism is often linked to lower levels of happiness and life satisfaction. When people prioritize material possessions over other aspects of life, such as relationships and personal growth, they may experience feelings of inadequacy and stress.

TRUE OR FALSE Materialism drives excessive consumption, which leads to significant environmental consequences. The production and disposal of consumer goods require vast amounts of natural resources and energy, contributing to pollution and climate change.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE Increased materialism decelerates deforestation and habitat destruction as the demand for new products and raw materials rises.

False Increased materialism also accelerates deforestation and habitat destruction as the demand for new products and raw materials rises.

suggests that wealth and well-being are positively correlated up to the point where basic needs (such as food, shelter, and healthcare) are met. Beyond this threshold, additional increases in wealth tend to have diminishing returns on subjective well-being. This phenomenon occurs because people quickly adapt to new possessions and pleasures, leading to a constant pursuit of more without lasting increases in happiness.

Basic Needs and Beyond: The Hedonic Treadmill Theory

TRUE OR FALSE: Through social comparison theory and information effects. Wealth can't influence well-being.

FALSE Wealth can influence well-being through Social Comparison Theory and Information Effects.

suggests that individuals feel less satisfied when they compare themselves to wealthier peers, leading to decreased happiness.

Social Comparison Theory

Posits that seeing others achieve wealth can increase one's own happiness by signaling the possibility of future financial success.

Information Effect

This approach requires households and societies to consume less than their net income, allowing for the accumulation of wealth and ensuring that future generations can also enjoy a good quality of life.

Sustainable Wealth and Well-being: Sustainable Consumption Theory

TRUE OR FALSE Wealthier people may be happier, however, the nature shifts based on well-being.

FALSE The researchers found that while wealthier people may be happier, the nature of happiness shifts based on income.

TRUE OR FALSE People with low income, having a sense of meaning in life is more closely associated with overall happiness.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE Material wealth alone, guarantee happiness.

FALSE it does not.

TRUE OR FALSE Individuals who strive most for wealth tend to live with lower well-being

TRUE

People who seek this goal wherein they strive for wealth, beauty, popularity, prestige, or anything else centered on external rewards or approval—and you may

Extrinsic Goals

People who strive for ________ _____ such as “intimacy, personal growth, and contribution to the community” experience a higher quality of life.

Intrinsic Goals

TRUE OR FALSE People focused on extrinsic and material goals also “focus less on caring for the Earth,”

TRUE

our tendency to judge our experience (for example, of sounds, temperatures, or income) relative to a neutral level defined by our prior experience. We adjust pur neutral levels---the points at which sounds seem neiter loud nor soft, temperatures neither hot nor cold, events neither pleasant nor unpleasant on the basis of our experience. We then notice and react to up or down changes from those levels.

Adaptation Level Phenomenon

suggests that people value their personal and social worth by assessing how they compare to others.

Social Comparison Therory by Leon Festinger

How to enhance life quality?

1. Close, Supportive Relationships 2. Faith Communities and Voluntary Organizations 3. Positive Thinking Habits 4. Experiencing Nature 5. Flow

are often a source of such connections, as well as of meaning and hope

Faith Communities and Voluntary Organizations

Optimism, self-esteem, perceived control, and extraversion also mark happy experiences and happy lives.

Positive Thinking Habits

Our deep need to belong is satisfied by close, supportive relationships.

Close, Supportive Relationships

Japanese researchers report that “forest bathing”—walks in the woods—also help lower stress hormones and blood pressure

Experiencing Nature

is an optimal state in which, absorbed in an activity, we lose consciousness of self and time. Work and leisure experiences that engage one’s skills mark happy lives. In fact, the less expensive (and generally more involving) a leisure activity, the happier people are while doing it.

Flow

aims to promote real progress and sustainability by measuring the quality of life, rather than the mere sum of production and consumption.

Gross National Happiness