In the eye of the beholder: the role of individual differences in the perception of restorative nature environments

Beevers, David

Abstract

Psychological restoration is the recovery from a period of mental fatigue or stress. Exposure to nature environments has been shown to be particularly conducive to enabling restoration. The focus of restoration research to date has largely been directed towards the environment itself, testing the restorative potential of nature scenes against other environments, including differing nature settings. Consequently, the impact of the observer’s perspective and their pre-existing attitudes towards nature have been largely overlooked. This role of individual differences on the initial affective response to nature has not been explored before and so this research is the first
to investigate the potential subjective attraction of a nature environment. Two quantitative studies (n= 66; n=109) tested how individual differences such as personality, connectedness to
nature, and past or present experiences of nature affect the appeal of nature, in terms of pleasantness, desire to be in the environment, and fascination. A qualitative third study using an interview-based photo-elicitation technique then explored the emotional nature relationships of people who regularly access and have a positive attitude to nature, to investigate the emotional aspects of nature engagement. The results from all three studies showed that individual differences do affect subjective affective evaluations of nature in different ways, thus showing that individuals do see nature differently based on their previous experiences and the emotional
relationship they have with nature. The implications of these findings are that an emotional bond with nature heightens the appeal of nature, and increases desire to be in nature. By improving desire to be in nature and therefore engagement with nature, more people will be able to psychologically benefit from exposure to nature. Greater understanding of varying personal attitudes towards nature will inform how to increase engagement.

Key words: Nature, psychological restoration; individual differences; connectedness to nature;
photo-elicitation

Citation

Beevers, D. In the eye of the beholder: the role of individual differences in the perception of restorative nature environments. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Nov 12, 2024
• Award Date: Nov 21, 2024