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Although we do
not always recognize it, we are deeply affected by the physical
world around us. To understand our daily experiences, we must
consider our relationship to our surroundings more carefully.
In this course, we will explore the nature of people’s
interrelationships with space and place. We will consider
just how our environment affects our daily lives, our behaviors
and feelings, and how we, in turn, help shape and influence
our environment.
The field of environmental
psychology takes an interdisciplinary approach to exploring
people in a physical context, bringing together elements of
the social sciences (psychology, geography, anthropology,
sociology) and the design disciplines (landscape architecture,
architecture and urban planning) to provide a richer understanding
of the complex dynamic between people and their physical surroundings.
Course
Description:
This course will
explore the nature and nuances of interrelationships between
people and their surroundings by examining an array of critical
issues in environmental psychology. Here, the environment
is broadly defined to include not only our physical surroundings
(both natural and built) but also the larger, socio-cultural
and political milieu in which we live. Starting with foundational
theories on place attachment and place identity, the course
will cover classic issues that help inform urban ecological
design, such as relationships to nature, landscape preferences,
personal space, territoriality, and crowding. Later in the
course we will address the emerging importance of the politics
of place, as manifest through the appearance, meanings and
uses of urban public space. We will conclude with a closer
look at design processes and the ways which they can be enriched
through an environmental psychology perspective. In addressing
these issues, the course will provide a critical framework
for understanding the role of the environment in our everyday
lives.
Through reading,
discussion, in-class activities and assignments, you will
develop the ability to analyze environment-and-behavior issues,
think more critically about the world around you, and understand
the ways that we exert influence on the environment. For design
students, this course will also help you to create more effective
and appropriate environments that address human needs.
Objectives:
This class is designed
to help you to:
· Explore and understand various perspectives on human-environment
interrelationships
· Gain insight into the ways in which the environment
influences our feelings and experiences
· Gain first-hand knowledge about key environment and
behavior issues through hands-on activities
Required
Texts:
Gifford, R. (2002).
Environmental psychology: Principles and practice. Optimal
Books.
Course Reader:
Because environmental psychology is such an interdisciplinary,
dynamic field its resources are quite diverse. To reflect
this richness, the textbook will be supplemented by a short
collection of essays and articles. This is available at Professional
Copiers on the Ave (4200 University Way).
Course Work and Grading:
Course grades will
be based on the following activities during the term:
In-class Exercises 10%
Mini-project Assignments 40%
Mid-quarter Essays 25%
Final Essays 25%
Total 100%
1. In-Class Exercises:
The richness of this course greatly depends on your active
engagement with the issues raised in class. Each of you is
expected to review readings carefully and come to class prepared
to discuss them. Small group discussion and in-class exercises
will periodically be a part of this class, and completed work
from these activities will be collected.
2. Mini-project
Assignments: Throughout the course, you will be given
several short “mini-projects” to complete, which
will require you to put the concepts raised in class to the
test in field work. These activities will provide you with
interesting, hands-on experience with course topics. Brief
reports (about 5 pps.) will be required. You must submit a
total of three mini-projects. While everyone must complete
the first project, “Environmental Autobiography”
you can choose which of the remaining two you would like to
do.
3. Essay
Papers: Two essay papers are also required for this course;
one will be due mid-quarter and the other at the end of the
quarter. Both of these assignments will be made up of a set
of essay questions based on the readings and lectures. To
encourage you to work on these as we go from topic to topic,
the essay questions will be handed out each week. In this
way, they can serve as a study guide to help you to think
about the readings as we move through them. This will also
give you an opportunity to explore these issues more in-depth,
synthesizing main points of the course. It is strongly recommended
that you work on these essays as you receive them to help
alleviate any undue burden on you right before the due dates.
Course Outline
Week 1-2
(Oct 1, 3) The Nature and Scope of Environmental Psychology
Gifford, R. (2002).
Ch. 1: “The nature and scope of environmental psychology”
In Environmental psychology: Principles and practice. pp 1-16.
Gifford, R. “Making
a difference: Some ways that environmental psychology has
changed the world.”
Upton, D. (1997).
“Seen, unseen and scene.” In Groth, P and Bressi,
T. (1997). Understanding ordinary landscapes. New Haven, Conn:
Yale University Press.
Proshansky, H.
(1971). Excerpt from “The role of environmental psychology
for the design professions. Paper presented as symposium:
Architecture of Human Behavior. Philadephia, PA.
Week 2. (Oct 8, 10) Emotional Relationships
to Place: Attachment & Identity
Cooper Marcus,
C. (1992). “Environmental Memories.” In Altman
and Low (eds). Place attachment. Volume 12, Human Behavior
and Environment: Advances in Theory and Research. New York:
Plenum Press.
Hester, R. (1993).
“Sacred spaces and everyday life: A return to Manteo,
North Carolina.” In D. Seamon (Ed.). Dwelling, seeing
and designing: Toward a phenomenological ecology. NY: State
University of New York Press.
** Mini-Project
#1: Environmental Autobiographies Due Thursday, Oct 10
**
Week 3. (Oct 15, 17) Relationships to Nature
Mitchell, M.Y.,
Force, J.E., Carroll, M.S. and McLaughlin, W.J. (1993). Forest
places of the heart: Incorporating special places into public
management. Journal of Forestry, 91(4), 32-37.
Grampp, C. (1990).
“Social meanings of residential gardens. In Francis,
M. and Hester, R. (eds.). The meaning of gardens. Cambridge,
MA: MIT Press.
Macnaghten, P.
and Urry, J. (1998). “Rethinking nature and society.”
In Contested natures. CA: Sage Publications, pp. 1-31.
Nassauer, J. I.
(1997). “Culture and landscape ecology: Insights for
action.” In Nassauer, J. (ed.). Placing nature: Culture
and landscape ecology.
Week 4. (Oct 22, 24) Environmental Attitudes,
Assessments and Preferences
Gifford, R. (2002).
Ch. 3: “Environmental Attitudes, Appraisals and Assessments.”
pp. 56-88.
Week 5. (Oct 29, 31) Environmental Perception
and Cognition
Gifford, R. (2002).
Ch. 2: “Environmental cognition.” pp. 20-47.
** Mini-Project
#2: Environmental Appraisals, Due Tuesday, Oct 29 **
Week 6.
(Tues, Nov 5) Privacy:
Gifford, R. (2002).
Ch.8: “Privacy.” pp. 210-231.
Privacy International
(1999). Privacy and Human Rights 1999: An international survey
of privacy laws and developments. London.
Boal, M. (1998).
“Spycam City: The surveillance society.” In The
Village Voice.
Le, P. (Tues, Oct
5, 1999). “Computers to monitor the homeless.”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Week 6. (Nov 7) Personal Space:
Gifford, R. (2002).
Ch. 5: “Personal space.” pp. 121-144.
Sommer, R. (2002).
“Personal space in a digital age.” In Bechtel
and Churchman (Eds). Handbook of Environmental Psychology.
NY: John Wiley and Sons, pp. 647-657.
**** First
Essay Paper Due – Thursday, Nov 7****
Week 7. (Nov 12, 14) Territoriality &
Community Design:
Gifford, R. (2002).
Ch. 6: “Territoriality” pp. 149-167.
Cisneros, H. (1995).
Defensible space: Deterring crime and building community.
Washington D.C.: U.S. Dept of Housing and Urban Development.
Week 8 (Nov 19, 21) Crowding
Gifford, R. (2002).
Ch. 7: “Crowding” pp. 171-201.
** Mini-project
#4: Personal Space Due Thursday Nov 21**
Week 8-9. (Tues, Nov 26 ) Urban Public Space
Film: “The
Social Life of Small Urban Spaces” by William F. Whyte
Kayden, J. (2001).
Excerpts from Privately owned public space. pp 21-22, 147-148.
Readings from the
Project for Public Spaces website: www.pps.org/gps
No Class on Thursday,
November 28 – Thanksgiving Holiday
** Mini-project
#5: Behavior Mapping Exercise Due Tuesday, December 3rd**
Week 10. (Dec 3, 5) A New Look at Design
Gifford, Ch. 15:
“Designing More Habitable Environments,” pp. 467-497,
and Epilogue: “Utopia versus entopia” pp. 502-504.
Week 11: Tuesday, Dec 10 (last day of classes)
Wrap-up: Toward
better practice: The interface between environmental psychology
and design.
*** Friday, December
13 5pm - Final Essay
Paper Due ***
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