Healing power of nature

Resource type: this resource contains a lecture or lecture notes.

Completion status: this resource is ~25% complete.

These notes are based on a guest lecture for the Health Psychology unit of study at the University of Canberra.

Overview

This lecture provides an introduction to the "healing power of nature" from a psychological point of view. It emphasises psychoevolutionary theory and practical applications.

Activities

This section involves some experiential activities to heighten personal awareness about our engagements with nature.

Sensory awareness inventory

Write down as many examples as you can of how you receive pleasure, comfort or enjoyment through each of your five senses:


Sight	Sound	Touch	Taste	Smell

Discussion

Circle all the sources of pleasure that involve nature
Design a "perfect day" which involves receiving at least one favourite source of pleasure through each of your senses
Consider: Are there more than five senses?[1][2]

Favourite place in nature

Close your eyes
Take a deep breath in … and out
Imagine your favourite place in nature
See yourself visiting that place
What does it feel like?
When you’re ready, say goodbye and leave that place
Then open your eyes
Find a person near you and share about your favourite place

History

This section looks at the role of nature in health and well-being through human history.

Indigenous

Humans lived deeply in and with nature for hundreds of thousands, if not millions of years
Thinking, feeling, and behaving was intimately connected to natural environments (land, air, water, plants, animals, weather, ecosystems)

Industrialisation

1000 - 10,000 years ago: Many indigenous cultures became agrarian (farming-based) – Agrarian society (Wikipedia)
Present - 250 years ago: Many agrarian cultures became industrialised (manufacturing economy) – Industrialisation (Wikipedia)

Present

Many people do not live in direct, continuous, daily contact with nature.
Urbanisation:
2018 = 55%
2050 = 68% [https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-of-world-urbanization-prospects.html
Nature deficit disorder (Wikipedia) (Louv, 2008)

Future

↑ Urbanisation
↑ Human population
↓ Natural environment
→ ↑ Nature deficit disorder?

Theory

This section explores the main psychologies theories used to understand the healing potential of nature.

Intersections

This area represents intersections between:

Health
Environment
Psychology

Psychevolutionary theory

Evolutionary psychology (Wikipedia)

Biophilia hypothesis

Biophilia hypothesis (Wikipedia) (Wilson, 1984)
Edward O. Wilson's Biophilia Hypothesis (wilderdom.com)

Attention restoration theory

Attention restoration theory (Wikipedia)
Attention restoration theory (Motivation and Emotion Book Chapter, Wikiversity)
Attention restoration theory (Psychology of natural scenes, Wikiversity)
Kaplan (1995)

Stress reduction theory

Stress reduction theory (Wikipedia)
Stress reduction theory (Psychology of natural scenes, Wikiversity)
Ulrich et al. (1991)

Research

This section highlights some key and illustrative research findings about the healing potential of exposure to nature.

Natural scenes

Ulrich (1984): Natural view through a hospital window promoted recovery
Viewing

Green space

Public health

Green exercise

Field studies
Lab studies
MMORPG exergames

Nature therapy

Nature therapy / ecotherapy

Adventure therapy
Animal therapy (e.g., companion animals, equine therapy, mini-zoo keepers)
Conservation therapy (e.g., mini zoo-keepers)
Green prescriptions (GRx)
Horticultural therapy
Nature meditation

Summary

Slides

Healing power of nature, 2019 (Google Slides)

Readings

Barton, J., & Pretty, J. (2010). Urban ecology and human health and wellbeing. Urban Ecology, 12(1), 202–229.

Bowler, D. E., Buyung-Ali, L. M., Knight, T. M., & Pullin, A. S. (2010). A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health of exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health, 10, 456. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-456

Frumkin, H. (2001). Beyond toxicity: Human health and the natural environment. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 20, 234–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(00)00317-2

Gullone, E. (2000). The biophilia hypothesis and life in the 21st century: Increasing mental health or increasing pathology? Journal of Happiness Studies, 1(3), 293–322. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010043827986

Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), 169–182. http://doi.org/10.1016/0272-4944(95)90001-2

References

Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Algonquin Books.

Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., Groenewegen, P. P., De Vries, S., & Spreeuwenberg, P. (2006). Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation? Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 60(7), 587–592. http://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2005.043125

Ulrich, R. S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery. Science, 224(4647), 224–225. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.614340

Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11(3), 201–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80184-7

Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia. Harvard University Press.