Lecture Notes: Ch. 4 Theories in Environmental Psychology pt.

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Stimulation Theories: stress Theory

Stress Emotional, Behavioral & physiological components Environmental Stress Model: Environment can elicit stress & coping reactions when it is evaluated to be threatening. Stressor: environmental Stimulus Stress Response: reaction

Stress theory Components of stress reactions: Environmental stimulation (perceive Stressor) Cognitive appraisal of the environment as threatening Appraisal of stimulus and then appraisal of how well you can cope with it. If you believe you can cope you get a different reaction. Physiological reaction (general adaptation syndrome): Three stages: Alarm Reaction (autonomic response) Resistance (attempt to adapt) Adaptation (if stressor continues)(physiological reaction may weaken over time) Exhaustion (body resources are depleted) (the biological stress coping ways e.g. cortisol can inhibit immune system)

Effects of Stress Physical: Immune system functioning & disease Can interfere with hippocampal function: Memory (creating and consolidating memories) Deficits to task Performance: Cognitive overload Coping Behavior Depression, anxiety, aggression Stress theory Acute Stressors: short duration, occurs suddenly Cataclysmic events: terrorist attack, hurricane, tornado Personal stressors: Illness, death of a loved one, loss of job. Background Stressors: longer duration, chronically, continuously Ambient stressors: chronic, global conditions, located in an area with high traffic. Living in area prone to earthquakes. Daily Hassles: Being trapped in traffic, technological hassles. Bad night sleep (happens more often) Stress theory: Dilemmas of Stress

Daily hassles may contribute more to depression than personal stressors. (mainly because of the chronic response) High scores in life-change units are not that well correlated with health problems. \/ **There is wide variability in how people appraise and cope with stress** <---/

Stress: Seeking exciting environments Why do people bungee jump, sky dive, mountain climb, race cars, explore and live in demanding places? Sensation seeking (Zuckerman, 1979) personality characteristics vary in this. Opponent-process motivation (Solomon, 1980) Fear becomes pleasure over time. Control Theories: Behavior constraint How much control do we have (or think we have or want to have) over environmental stimulation? Behavior Constraint Perspective: if environment limits or interferes with activities (contraint behavior), it can lead to loss of Perceived control Interpreting the situation as beyond your control can lead to discomfort & negative affect, and Reactance (act to restore control) Behavior Constraint Learned Helplessness: IF repeated attempts to regain control fail, we cease trying to change the situation Learn that actions have no effect, conviction that no amount of effort can succeed in overcoming unpleasant or painful situations Increasing perceived control can reduce negative impact of other environmental factors (noise, crowding) and increase motivation for environmental behaviors (reducing pollution, preparation for natural disasters)

Behavior setting theories: Barker's ecological psychology

Behavior settings Based on idea that consistent, prescribed patters of behavior are found in many places. Based on Group behavior not individual behavior Staffing levels & impact of under and overstaffing on involvement and satisfaction within an environment. Useful for understanding group behavior in context.