Driving cars and living in high-rise apartments are relatively new experiences for the human species, but they demonstrate that we are particularly good at adapting to a diverse range of landscapes. Environmental psychology explores how physical spaces influence the way we feel, think, and interact with the world. Specialists in the field investigate everything from stressful designs in urban landscapes to the therapeutic effects of the outdoors on children.

Recent posts on Environment

The Demography of Aging

Ever wonder why nearly 75% of our longevity has so little to do with our genetics or health care?

Moral Relativism is Tricky But Smarter Than the Alternative

By Jeremy E Sherman Ph.D. on December 09, 2017 in Ambigamy
When push comes to shove we dig in our heels, pretending that nature or the supernatural stands for what we stand for. That's a problem worth keeping an eye on.

Rethinking Authenticity

Being authentic does not mean standing alone; it means making worthy judgments about the people one chooses to stand with.

Climate Change Affecting Farmers' Mental Health

By Robert T Muller Ph.D. on December 07, 2017 in Talking About Trauma
As the temperatures increase, so do the mental health risks among farmers.
J. Krueger

The Kingdom of Bayes

By Joachim I Krueger Ph.D. on December 04, 2017 in One Among Many
Will there be a second coming of the Reverend, or is the Bayesian revolution a matter of rhetoric? Consider some eschatological perspectives.

What If You Could See What's Coming?

By Peter Bregman on December 04, 2017 in How We Work
Discover your seventh sense for perceiving tipping points, why there’s no “second place” in the connected world of the future, and what you can do to prepare your business.
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Hot Nights Can Disrupt Your Sleep

By Michael J Breus Ph.D. on November 30, 2017 in Sleep Newzzz
New research explores how warm nighttime temperatures disturb sleep.

#MeToo: Insights From Psychological Theory and Research

The psychological and physical impact of sexual harassment on its victims is damaging and often long-lasting. #MeToo has rekindled questions about why and when it occurs.

The Human Ape

By Rebecca Coffey on November 29, 2017 in The Bejeezus Out of Me
When it comes to sexual politics, why do even the good guys act like apes?

When a College Education Makes Things Worse

By Ira Hyman Ph.D. on November 28, 2017 in Mental Mishaps
What if a college education makes things worse? Should we worry about the value of education in the post-truth world?

Evolutionary Psychology and Enlightenment

Programed for dissatisfaction? Thank your evolutionary roots. Consider enlightenment as a strategy to improve your well-being and to become a better person.

10 Psychological Concepts That People Don’t Get

Many aspects of human psychology that are consistently difficult for students to understand. Here is a list of 10 for starters.

Holiday Conversations in a Polarized World

In today’s highly polarized political climate, even time spent with family and friends can quickly turn contentious.

Be Home

By Rick Hanson Ph.D. on November 21, 2017 in Your Wise Brain
The responsive and reactive modes of living are the foundation of human nature. We have no choice about the vital aims they serve. Our only choice is which mode we’re in.

Walking in Natural Environments Nourishes Parent-Child Bonds

By Christopher Bergland on November 18, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
Spending time together in nature increases family cohesion, according to a new study.

Our Entomophobic Culture

By Jeffrey Lockwood Ph.D. on November 17, 2017 in The Infested Mind
The playfulness of the Itsy Bitsy Spider can’t compete with the image of a frightened Little Miss Muffet. Nursery rhymes and adult stories tell us that insects are terrifying.
 Bart LaRue / Unsplash

When Should You Trust Your Gut? Here's What the Science Says

By Al Pittampalli on November 16, 2017 in Are You Persuadable?
Without the answer, you can't be an effective decision maker.

Saving Silence: Finding Quiet in a Chaotic World

By Anna Akbari Ph.D. on November 16, 2017 in Startup Your Life
When is the last time you were truly in just one place and not on-call to the rest of the world?

Compassionate Conservation Matures and Comes of Age

By Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on November 15, 2017 in Animal Emotions
Among the major goals of compassionate conservation (CC) is taking killing off the table. Conservation is a moral pursuit and as such CC focuses on individual well-being.

Domestic Violence Victims Kept Silent by Trump’s Policies

It's vital to create a safe and supportive environment for a person looking to escape an abusive situation. Our current immigration policies do not create such an environment.

Metaphoria by Design

By Toby Israel Ph.D. on November 15, 2017 in Design on My Mind
Architecture and interior design can use storytelling metaphors to elicit emotions and thus be transformative in relation to our own journeys.

The Workplace Bully and The Office Sociopath

Individuals who are competent, successful, cooperative and unlikely to confront the bully, or take action when bullied, are particularly susceptible to workplace bullying.

How to Heal the Primal Wound

By Darcia Narvaez Ph.D. on November 12, 2017 in Moral Landscapes
To protect ourselves from feeling the primal wound, we create a false world and a false self.

Your Primal Wound: What Happened in Childhood?

By Darcia Narvaez Ph.D. on November 12, 2017 in Moral Landscapes
Psychosynthesis considers a human life to move toward self-realization but many get detoured by their primal woundedness. How does that happen?

Do Tidy Households Have Fewer Bugs?

Cleaning sure has its benefits. But does cleaning impact the the diversity of bug biomes in homes?

The Psychology and Mathematics of Time in Aging

By Mario D Garrett Ph.D. on November 11, 2017 in iAge
How we see time is an indication of our life story. We might be accessing cues from both our body and the environment that tells us when that final curtain is likely to be.

Are We Environmental Criminals?

Are we—are you—environmental criminals? And how do we feel about it?

Cultural Keywords

By Marianna Pogosyan Ph.D. on November 08, 2017 in Between Cultures
Cultural keywords reveal values, ways of thinking and feeling in different cultures.

The Ravages of Nature: Human and Otherwise

By Debbie Joffe Ellis on November 08, 2017 in Tried and True
When tragic events occur, we can choose to focus on what still is good in life, create stability within, and consequently cope well and act in more effective ways.

A Question Everyone's Afraid to Ask

By Kaja Perina on November 07, 2017 in Brainstorm
The meta-question in psychology is now "What questions are off limits?" Increasingly, the answer is "Any inquiry that interferes with people's sense of how the world should work."