Environmental Psychology - Topic 5

Question 1

What are some of the characteristics of an urban environment?

Answer 1

densely populated
city
more industrial
taller buildings
higher temperature
more polluted

Question 2

What are some of the characteristics of a rural environment?

Answer 2

low pop. density
away from main city
slower pace of life
spread out
less buildings

Question 3

What type of behaviour does overcrowding affect?

Answer 3

social interaction

helping behaviour

Question 4

What happened in Bickman’s study on helping behaviour?

Answer 4

looked at % of letters posted on to the addressee in high, medium and low pop. density student dorms

Question 5

What did Bickman’s study find?

Answer 5

high proportion of posted letters in low density (88%)

lowest in high density (58%)

Question 6

What are the three factors of defensible space?

Answer 6

zones of territory (fences/hedges)
surveillance (overlooking an area)
image/milieu (nicer area nicer people)

Question 7

Who came up with the idea of defensible space?

Answer 7

Newman

Question 8

Why do residents not identify with communal areas?

Answer 8

diffusion of responsibility

if there are no territorial markers then they will feel like the area isn’t theirs

Question 9

What is defensible space?

Answer 9

areas that people have around them that they can territorialise (found more in urban areas as you don’t have enough space)

Question 10

What is the difference in crime rates between rural and urban areas?

Answer 10

rural -> new forest, 225 crimes, arson & burglary

urban -> soton centre, 760 crimes, theft, shoplifting, 10x the national average of violent crimes

Question 11

Whats the difference in mental health between urban and rural areas?

Answer 11

rural -> 81% reported positive well being

urban -> increased chance of anxiety and depression due to lack of personal space

Question 12

What is the difference in physical health between urban and rural areas?

Answer 12

rural -> diabetes is more likely, not as much access to hospitals
urban -> heat related illnesses common

Question 13

What is the difference in mortality rates in urban and rural areas?

Answer 13

rural -> higher life expectancy, mortality rate higher for women
urban -> more violent deaths are more common

Question 14

What was the aim of Ulrich’s study?

Answer 14

investigate the impact of a window view on recover from surgery

Question 15

What was the sample used in Ulrich’s study?

Answer 15

46 patients
aged 20-69
23 matched pairs
15 female pairs
8 male pairs

Question 16

What 4 factors were the participants in Ulrich’s study matched on?

Answer 16

age
gender
weight
smoker/non-smoker

Question 17

What were the 5 DV’s used in Ulrich’s study?

Answer 17

• > length of visit
• > no. and strength of pair killers each day
• > no. and strength of doses for anxiety per day
• > complications requiring medication
• > nurses notes divided into positive and negative

Question 18

What design and research method was used in Ulrich’s study?

Answer 18

matched pairs

natural experiment

Question 19

What was the main comparison being investigated in Ulrich’s study?

Answer 19

tree view vs brick wall view

Question 20

What were the 4 main results found in Ulrich’s study?

Answer 20

• > tree view spent significantly less time in hospital (7.96:8.7 days)
• > tree view took less strong pain meds and more doses of weak meds
• > more negative notes for wall view patients
• > no significant difference between the other hypotheses

Question 21

What conclusions were found in Ulrich’s study?

Answer 21

views of a natural scene are more therapeutic and have more benefits (release of serotonin helping with sleep)

hospitals should take into account the quality of patients window views

Question 22

What 6 elements of environmental design can be used to help improve health/wellbeing?

Answer 22

colour
lighting
green spaces
windows/pleasant views
open spaces
defensible space