Environmental Psychology Priority Flashcards
90-100%
Environmental Stressors
Noise
- unwanted noise is annoying and can’t be controlled and its harder to concentrate on other things
- Glass+Singer: noise is only stressful when unpredictable and loud
Environmental Stressors
Temperature
- extreme temperature is stressful because it can be too hot or too cold
- Kenrick+ McFarlane: interpersonal hostility increase as temperature increased. >38 degrees 34% of this who used horn, 50% used for total interval. <32degrees none.
Environmental Stressors
Crowding
- can’t get out or around and there is no personal space
- Christian et al: deer had enlarged adrenal glands which releases the stress hormone in those that were enlarged
- higher rates of suicides in overcrowded prisons
Environmental Stressors
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome-
1-Alarm reaction stage
Adrenal glad secretes adrenaline and cortisol, preparing for fight or flight.
Environmental Stressors
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome-
2-The resistance stage
Tries to adapt to new situation. Allocates energy resources to repair damaged muscles but body’s defence system weakens. Production of stress hormones lowered. Body remains on-guard.
Environmental Stressors
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome-
3-The exhaustion stage
Depleted resources and will continue its recovery. In this stage for long term=exhaustion deteriorates further.
Environmental Stressors
Musculoskeletal system
Muscles tense to prepare for stress and a way of preventing harm.
Constant=chronic pain
Environmental Stressors
Cardiovascular system
Short term:
-increased BP, HR and strong contractions
Long term:
-hypertension, heart attacks and stroke
Environmental Stressors
Gastrointestinal
Increase in stomach acid and therefore contents won’t break down normally. Acid reflux from build up of acid and severe ulcers.
Environmental Stressors
Respiratory system
Airways constrict, restricting O2 from coming in.
Hyperventilation-rapid breathing to compensate for which is restricted.
Environmental Stressors
Endocrine system
Adrenal glands secrete cortisol which provides energy by mobilising glucose and fatty acids from the liver to be used.
Chronic: impaired communications= metabolic disorders, liver issues.
Environmental Stressors
Nervous system
Adrenaline released to activate fight or flight in the sympathetic nervous system.
Chronic= leads to anxiety disorders.
Environmental Stressors
Black and Black (2007)
Aim
Is health-related qualities of life worse in a community chronically exposed to aircraft noise? Is it associated to elevated BP?
Environmental Stressors
Black and Black (2007)
Sample
Questionnaire send out to 1500 on ‘environmental noise’ and received 704 back completely filled out.
Noise: 50 noise events a day louder than 70db
Control: 55km from airport-no aircraft noise
Groups matched on socio-economic indices devised form the questionnaire. Less responses from control group.
Environmental Stressors
Black and Black (2007)
Method
Quasi experiment
Self-report- questionnaire made of yes or no questions and rating scales.
Environmental Stressors
Black and Black (2007)
7 characteristics in the questionnaire
- health related quality of life
- hypertension condition (‘reported’)
- noise stress (out of 10 on a rating scale)
- noise sensibility
- noise annoyance (out of 10 on a rating scale)
- demographic characteristics
- confounding factors
Environmental Stressors
Black and Black (2007)
Results
Noise annoyance: Noise= 6.27 Control=1.03 Noise stress: Noise=6.44 Control=4.25 Hypertension (BP): Noise=51 Control=55 [p=0.45 not significant and a lot due to chance]
Environmental Stressors
Black and Black (2007)
Conclusions
Longterm aircraft noise was significantly associated with chronic noise stress (mental.)
Chronic noise stress is not significantly associated with prevalence of hypertension- no significant difference been the two groups.
Environmental stressors
Dealing with stress-
Situational: extend the curfew of when airlines can’t
Flights less likely to happen at night= better nights sleep- helps to overcome the GAS exhaustion stage and allows for recovery.
The government and council can enforce laws. Logistics at the airport would have to ensure flights coincide with the regulations.
-flights more likely to occurs during the day which makes then more stressful because of the increased frequency
Environmental stressors
Dealing with stress-
Individual: anti-hypersensitive drugs
Decreased sympathetic outflow, vasodilation, decreased blood volume, decreased blood pressure and blocks certain activity. Doctors will asses individual to see if they need to be put on these drugs. -extra urination -erection problems -weakness -fatigue -depression -sleep problems
Biological Rhythms
Circadian Rhythms
1-environmental changes in day signal its tine for sleep
2-body receives signals from the retinal ganglion cells of the eye
3-this is sent to the suprachiasmatic nucleus
4-infro sent to the pineal gland, responsible for melatonin and serotonin release-sleep and wakefulness
5-Melatonin produced 2 hours before bedtime
6-these hormone levels remain elevated for 12 hours
7-levels of this hormone starts to decrease with exposure to sunlight again
8-creates a phase response curve to create a regular cycle
Biological Rhythms
Phase delay
Extending the duration of the rhythms cycle.
Biological Rhythms
Phase advance
Shortening the duration of the rhythm’s cycle.
Biological Rhythms
Circadian Misalignment
Times when melatonin would normally beat its peak, it should be flatline. Constantly having night shifts/ day shifts would lead to confusion in melatonin release. SCN would wake at random times.
Biological Rhythms
Randy Gardner
11 days without sleep. Problems with concentration, short term memory, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions.
Biological Rhythms
Ultradian Rhythms-sleep cycle Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Rapid Eye Movement
Lasts approx 90 minutes
Stage 1-relaxed theta waves, reduction HR, muscle tension and body temperature
Stage 2-waves become slower and larger with bursts of high frequency- it is easy to be woken
Stage 3-sleep deepens and difficult to wake-long slow delay waves
Stage 4-can toss and turn, very little muscular activity, body temp drops, hard to wake- sleep walking and night terrors can occur
Rapid Eye Movement-paradoxical sleep (active brain but hard to wake)body paralysed and often have dreams
Biological Rhythms
Czeisler et al (1982)
Problem at the start
29% of workers were falling asleep at work because of the phase advance pattern
Biological Rhythms
Czeisler et al (1982)
Sample
Great Salt Lake Mineral and Chemical Cooperation
10 years working
All previously on phase advance pattern: 8 hour shifts for 7 days then changed to the ‘next’ 8 hour shift
33males rotating (OG pattern) 52males non-rotating (changed every 21 days and phase delay)
Biological Rhythms
Czeisler et al (1982)
Method
Longitudinal experiment
Self report- questionnaire after 3 months
Biological Rhythms
Czeisler et al (1982)
Procedure
Given a sleep-wake and schedule preferences questionnaire at the start. Each had an educational booklet and presentation.
Rotating:usual with phase advance and changed weekly
[12am-8am 4pm-12am 8am-4pm]
Non-rotating: by phase delay, changed every 21 days
[12am-8am 8am-4pm 4pm to 12pm]
Biological Rhythms
Czeisler et al (1982)
Results x4
- preferred new phase delay schedule
- health and job satisfaction both increased
- complains of the change is pattern too often from 90% to 20% in those non-rotating
- job productivity increased and maintained afterwards
Biological Rhythms
Czeisler et al (1982)
Conclusions
- application of phase delay and 21 day adjustment can maintain temporal integrity of the circadian rhythm and minimise any detrimental consequences
- may not work for emergency services and results may not be because of rhythms (demand characteristics)
Biological Rhythms Application- Melatonin supplements to reduce Jet Lag (phase advance) How it works Negatives Generalisability
Body acts on melatonin when it hasn’t natural be turned on. Can be bought over the counter. Useful when travelling west to east is phase advance as it encourages sleep at what feels like an earlier time.
- messes with other biological processes
- worsen mood with this with dementia
- unnatural and could worsen normal function
Not for this with high BP, depression, diabetes, children, pregnant women and those whoa re on methods of contraception. People have different rhythms so their melatonin durations last different lengths.
Biological Rhythms Application- Decrease number of nigh shifts in a row for shift workers How it works Negatives Generalisability
Allows for greater recovery period and adheres to natural circadian rhythms as this is when melatonin is released. Rhythms won’t be changed after one night of shift work.
-positive ethics as it decrease likelihood of mistakes being make at work which could be dangerous
Won’t work for those in emergency services. could lead to understaffing at night which could also be dangerous in healthcare.
Human Factors (cognitive)
Ergonomic design definition
How humans interact with machinery and designing equipment that matches human capabilities and limitations.
Human Factors (cognitive)
Cognitive overload definition
Attention divided by so much that the individual gives up and doesn’t process the information so that its inputted into short term memory, neither is it passed to long term memory. Capacity!
Human Factors (cognitive)
Chunking
Info chunked into integrated units so that the cognitive overload is reduced.
Retain for longer in the short term memory.
Human Factors (cognitive)
Baddeley and Hitch- Working Memory Model
Explanation
The memory is trying to pay attention to two separate tasks at once so becomes slower and less accurate in processing.
People can perform two tasks at the same time as long as the tasks use different components.
Human Factors (cognitive)
Baddeley and Hitch- Working Memory Model
Central Executive
Coordinates other systems activities.
Responsible for all processing and attention tasks.
Human Factors (cognitive)
Baddeley and Hitch- Working Memory Model
Visio-spatial sketchpad
Visual and Spatial information.
Temporary storage system
Human Factors (cognitive)
Baddeley and Hitch- Working Memory Model
Phonological Loop-two parts
Verbal and auditory info written or spoken. Temporary storage system.
Phonological store:Inner ear. Auditory rehearsal also from the inner voice. Hear what we are thinking. Limited capacity.
Articulatory control processes: Inner voice. Verbal rehearsal. Capacity depends on how long it takes to say something.
Human Factors (cognitive)
Baddeley and Hitch- Working Memory Model
Episodic Buffer
- extra storage system
- integrates info from all other areas
Human Factors (cognitive)
Drews and Doig (2013)
Aim and current VSD
Would nurse find it beneficial to receive info in a graphical form rather than numerical.
Standard VSD displayed: BP, O2 saturation, heart and respiratory rates.
Human Factors (cognitive)
Drews and Doig (2013)
Sample
42 registered ICU nurses from different hospitals.
Experienced
69% were female
25-64 years old
Human Factors (cognitive)
Drews and Doig (2013)
Research method/ Design/ variables
-Lab experiment
-given Likert to test preferences
-hypothetical scenarios
-5 mins to ‘assess’ patient
-Repeated measures
IV: CVS vs traditional display
DV: responsiveness/ time and accuracy of data interpretation
Human Factors (cognitive)
Drews and Doig (2013)
Design of Configural Vital Signs Display
Graphical and also had numerical.
outline rectangle=’ideal’ state
solid coloured rectangle= current state (more central=more stable )
white rectangle= change overtime (bigger=more)
Method of chunking as info seen as ‘whole’ group and therefore appears to be less.
Human Factors (cognitive)
Drews and Doig (2013)
The 4 Clinical Scenarios
1=serious 4=less so
1-Septic Shock-bowel resection= BP partially low, HR significantly elevated, SPO2 down.
2-Pulmonary embolus-following hip replacement=pneumonia= BP down, HR up, SPO2 critically low.
3-Early sepsis- following heart valve replacement= BP down but WNL, HR up, SPO2 WNL.
4-Stable scenario- all WNL
Human Factors (cognitive)
Drews and Doig (2013) Results Speed Accuracy Cognitive load
Speed:
- CVS 48% quicker in septic shock
- CVS 38% quicker in pulmonary embolus
- also significantly quicker in stable
Accuracy:
- 3rd more improved using CVS in septic shock and pulmonary embolism
- others not significant
Cognitive load:
significantly lower metal demand using CVS (3.95) than traditional (4.71) on 7 point rating scale.
Human Factors (cognitive)
Application on classroom
- key words coloured all the same or colour coded, same shape an font=reduces tasks of visuospatial sketchpad:colour, size, shape.
- fonts of displays bigger and have more importance compared to miller fonts.Text cut down to look less overwhelming=chunking info minimises info processed by the phonological loop.
Territory and Personal Space
Personal space definition
A mobile ‘bubble’ unseen that differs for each individual.
Territory and Personal Space
Edward Hall (1963)-Zones
Intimate
May involve some physical contact. Music is exposed about a person: smell, body temp, breathing.
<0.5 metres
Territory and Personal Space
Edward Hall (1963)-Zones
Casual
Normal interactions with friends/ acquaintances. Touching is possible. Next too someone.
0.5-1.25 metres
Territory and Personal Space
Edward Hall (1963)-Zones
Social
Typical for this that you don’t know. Verbal contact maintained. Classroom or interview.
1.25-4 metres
Territory and Personal Space
Edward Hall (1963)-Zones
Public
Communication minimal. Unwanted interaction. Public speakers. Swimming pools/ on a beach.
4-8 metres
Territory and Personal Space
Yerkes-Dodson law
Arousal increased by invasion of personal space.
low=bad performance
moderate= performance at optimum
high= performance impaired
Territory and Personal Space
Sommer (1969)
Territory is visible and stationary.
Territory and Personal Space
Altman (1975)
Primary
Secondary
Public
Primary-home-High amount of personalisation. Private place. Low likelihood of violation.
Secondary-classroom-Less personalisation. Accepted. Moderate likelihood of violation.
Public-beach-No personalisation. A temporary area. High likelihood of violation.
Territory and Personal Space
Personalisation factors (x5)
- expressions of ones emotions
- life outside of work
- job satisfaction
- territorial markers
- feelings of personal control
Territory and Personal Space
Wells (2000)
Hypotheses
1-men and women personalise differently. Women more than men, with different items for different purposes.
2-Personalisation positively associated with satisfaction with physical working environment, positively associated to job satisfaction, positively associated to wellbeing.
3-personalisation more integral to women’s wellbeing than men.
4-More lenient companies report higher levels of organisational well being.
Territory and Personal Space
Wells (2000)
Sample
20 companies in Orange County
Between 15-90 office workers in manufacturing, real estate and distribution.
51% response rate
25-44 yrs with a variety of races and martial statuses.
23 employees from 5 of the 20 companies. 15 females and 8 males.
Territory and Personal Space
Wells (2000)
Survey-7 items
1-details about personalisation
2-measures of satisfaction with working environment
3-emasures of job satisfaction
4-well being measures
5-employee perception of organisational well being
6-personality traits
7-demogrpahic information
Territory and Personal Space
Wells (2000)
Case studies and observation
- structure interview at desk lasting 10-15 minutes
- importance of personalisation and affect on well being/ job satisfaction- what is no longer allowed?
- checklist of personalisation items. Scale of aesthetics of place pre personalisation. Photos taken.
Territory and Personal Space
Wells (2000)
Results (in relation to hypothesis x4)
1-females 11.12 items. Males 7.68 items. Female:identity, emotions, relationships. Male:status, sport paraphernalia.
2-personalisation positively associated to physical working environment satisfaction. Personalisation indirectly associated to well being.
3-perosnisation important for both genders, Women valued it more strongly and negative if personalisation was taken away.
4-companies with more personalisation have greater levels of employee morale and rescued turnover.
[higher salaries, older and married personalised the most]
Territory and Personal Space
Defensible space definition
Bounded or semiprivate areas surrounding living quarters that residents can territorialise so that they appear to belong to someone.
Territory and Personal Space
Application
Design strategy to affect personal space:
Achievements
- pinned next to/ frames on desk as certificates
- have name inso personalised and belong
- increase well being, booming self esteem
- may seem intimidating or not approachable as seems too confident or a workaholic
Territory and Personal Space
Application
Design strategy to affect personal space:
Pictures
- of loved ones of special occasions/ days
- only relevant to that person
- think about people in pictures to motivate to get home to see them
- may distract and lose focus from intended task
- suggests the individual is open and may start conversations with nosey co-workers
