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relationships between fractals in nature and preference. This work on perceptual
fluency can also contribute to the restorative outcomes discussed in the ART. The
Biophilia Hypothesis proposes that the learning theory can explain preferences for
certain animals and plants. The SRT posits that nature-health relationships are
mediated through the autonomic nervous system. The ART states that experiencing
four experiential, person-environment qualities (being away, fascination, coherence/extent and compatibility) are required for attention restoration. In the
Ecosystem Service Cascade Model, the relationship between biodiversity properties
and human benefit is mediated through biophysical structures or processes, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services in serial. But as biodiversity itself can occur
in any stage of the Ecosystem Service Cascade Model, it is still unclear what are the
exact casual pathways linking biodiversity to health and well-being (Sandifer et al.
2015).
Conclusion There does not appear to be a single, precise framework to describe
biodiversity and mental well-being relationships, as none of the six frameworks
discussed in this chapter fully describe either biodiversity or mental well-being outcomes. This is likely an artefact of the way in which the majority of these frameworks have been empirically tested, i.e. by comparing man-made and natural
environments (Bowler et al. 2010; Thompson Coon et al. 2011). Natural environments, in these studies, are generally treated as uniform without consideration of
their biological quality (Dallimer et al. 2012); in other words, the biodiversity of an
environment was not explicitly investigated. Recently, a few researchers have started
to test these frameworks using biodiverse environments or stimuli. However, issues
still remain about using frameworks largely developed to describe differences in
natural or built settings to examine biodiverse environments and specific species.
As this inter-disciplinary field develops, it is important for researchers to challenge these existing frameworks. Future researchers could empirically test these
frameworks using environments with varying levels of species diversity. Such
research can help determine which frameworks are fit for purpose for describing the
inter-relationships between biodiversity and mental well-being. Only through this
theoretically grounded research can the existing frameworks be ‘evolved’ to better
fit biodiversity and mental well-being relationships.
Acknowledgements Thanks are due to Professor Aletta Bonn for her guidance on the Ecosystem
Service Cascade Model and Dr. Katherine Irvine for her recommendations on shaping the chapter.
I am grateful to the four peer reviewers and Eike von Lindern for their helpful suggestions.
References
Bell PA, Greene TC, Fisher JD, Baum A (2001) Environmental psychology. Harcourt, Fort Worth
Berlyne DE (1960) Conflict, arousal and curiosity. McGraw-Hill, New York
Berlyne DE (1974) Studies in the new experimental aesthetics: steps toward an objective psychology of aesthetic appreciation. Halsted Press, New York
M. R. Marselle
relationships between fractals in nature and preference. This work on perceptual
fluency can also contribute to the restorative outcomes discussed in the ART. The
Biophilia Hypothesis proposes that the learning theory can explain preferences for
certain animals and plants. The SRT posits that nature-health relationships are
mediated through the autonomic nervous system. The ART states that experiencing
four experiential, person-environment qualities (being away, fascination, coherence/extent and compatibility) are required for attention restoration. In the
Ecosystem Service Cascade Model, the relationship between biodiversity properties
and human benefit is mediated through biophysical structures or processes, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services in serial. But as biodiversity itself can occur
in any stage of the Ecosystem Service Cascade Model, it is still unclear what are the
exact casual pathways linking biodiversity to health and well-being (Sandifer et al.
2015).
Conclusion There does not appear to be a single, precise framework to describe
biodiversity and mental well-being relationships, as none of the six frameworks
discussed in this chapter fully describe either biodiversity or mental well-being outcomes. This is likely an artefact of the way in which the majority of these frameworks have been empirically tested, i.e. by comparing man-made and natural
environments (Bowler et al. 2010; Thompson Coon et al. 2011). Natural environments, in these studies, are generally treated as uniform without consideration of
their biological quality (Dallimer et al. 2012); in other words, the biodiversity of an
environment was not explicitly investigated. Recently, a few researchers have started
to test these frameworks using biodiverse environments or stimuli. However, issues
still remain about using frameworks largely developed to describe differences in
natural or built settings to examine biodiverse environments and specific species.
As this inter-disciplinary field develops, it is important for researchers to challenge these existing frameworks. Future researchers could empirically test these
frameworks using environments with varying levels of species diversity. Such
research can help determine which frameworks are fit for purpose for describing the
inter-relationships between biodiversity and mental well-being. Only through this
theoretically grounded research can the existing frameworks be ‘evolved’ to better
fit biodiversity and mental well-being relationships.
Acknowledgements Thanks are due to Professor Aletta Bonn for her guidance on the Ecosystem
Service Cascade Model and Dr. Katherine Irvine for her recommendations on shaping the chapter.
I am grateful to the four peer reviewers and Eike von Lindern for their helpful suggestions.
References
Bell PA, Greene TC, Fisher JD, Baum A (2001) Environmental psychology. Harcourt, Fort Worth
Berlyne DE (1960) Conflict, arousal and curiosity. McGraw-Hill, New York
Berlyne DE (1974) Studies in the new experimental aesthetics: steps toward an objective psychology of aesthetic appreciation. Halsted Press, New York
M. R. Marselle