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PSYC 432: Psychology and the Built Environment (Rev. C4) Report a Broken Link

This relatively new area of psychology studies the interrelationships between people and their everyday physical environments. Students in this course examine theories, research, and applications pertaining to the interrelationships among our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours (e.g., socializing, wayfinding, and working) and our everyday built environments (e.g., offices, residences, neighbourhoods, and classrooms). Topics of study include environmental perception and cognition; environmental stressors, such as noise; spatial behaviours, such as personal space and territoriality; physical setting, as in where we live, work, and learn; and designing for more fitting environments.

Unit 1: Introduction

Bell, P. A., Greene, T. C., Fisher, J. D., & Baum, A. (2001). Environment–behavior theories: Conceptualizing our interaction with the environment. In P. A. Bell, T. C. Greene, J. D. Fisher & A. Baum (Eds.), Environmental psychology (5th ed.). (pp. 103–135). New York, NY: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.
Sommer, R., & Sommer, B. (2002). Mapping and trace measures. In R. Sommer & B. Sommer (Eds.), A practical guide to behavioural research: Tools and techniques (5th ed.). (pp. 63–79). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Unit 2: Environmental Perception and Cognition

Southworth, M. (1969). The sonic environment of cities. Environment and Behavior, 1(1), 49–70. 

Unit 3: Ambient Environment

Bell, P. A., & Greene, T. C. (1982). Thermal stress: Physiological, comfort, performance, and social effects of hot and cold environments. In G. Evans (Ed.), Environmental stress (pp. 75–104). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 
Bronzaft, A. L. (2002). Noise pollution: A hazard to physical and mental well-being. In R. B. Bechtel & A. Churchman (Eds.), Handbook of environmental psychology (2nd ed.) (pp. 499–510). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

Unit 5: Crowding and Privacy


 

Baum, A., & Davis, G. E. (1980). Reducing the stress of high-density living: An architectural intervention. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38(3), 471–481.

Unit 6: Our Residences

Krupat, E. (1985). Cities by design: The physical environment and urban living. In People in cities: The urban environment and its effects (pp. 156–186). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 

Unit 7: Our Cities and Communities

Moser, G. (2003). Urban environments and human behavior. In C. D. Spielberger (Ed.), Encyclopedia of applied psychology (Vol. 3, pp. 621–631). New York, NY: Elsevier Academic Press. 

Unit 8: Our Schools

Strange, C. C., & Banning, J. H. (2001). Physical environments: The role of design and space. In Educating by design: Creating campus learning environments that work (pp. 9–32). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 

Unit 10: Designing More Fitting Environments

Wener, R. E. (1988). Doing it right: Examples of successful application of environment-behavior research. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 5(4), 284–303.