85
As the scope of the Environmental Sciences continued to develop, it blended
with other fields. Environmental Psychology concerns the interaction between the
environment and public perception of those spaces. Psychology plays a major role
in the health of citizens. Public spaces like parks, civic centres, public markets,
downtowns, and campuses affect psychology as well as the health of citizens. But
the decision-makers are yet to seriously incorporate the topic in decision-making.
Environmental psychology covers all aspects of human behaviour as well as
mental life in relation to the socio-physical environment. The psychological
domains, (1) anxiety, (2) depression, (3) social isolation, (4) personality factors and
character traits, as well as (5) chronic life stress, depend on environment (natural
and built).
Hence, health planning should be such that it invariably avoids the following:
1. Slums
2. Traffic congestion
3. Absence of parks
4. Uncomfortable noise
5. Poor lighting
6. Littering/spitting
7. Too many posters/bills on walls
8. Garbage piles
9. Street dogs
10. Rodents
Fig. 4.10 Public waiting for mass transportation
4.3 Environmental Psychology