Psy/460 - The Effects of Population Density and Noise on Individuals

The Effects of Population Density and Noise on Individuals

Population density is a concept that is strongly connected to stress, anxiety, and various heart diseases – primarily because of its association with excessive noise and its negative consequences on human beings. With an increase in the population numbers of cities around the world come unwanted factors like lack of personal space, privacy, and territory; all of these factors have been scientifically proven to be associated with the deterioration of human health. Because population density is correlated to noise, and consequently health problems, it is important for the population to be aware and knowledgeable about ways to protect itself from the dangers related to these issues.

Explaining Privacy, Territoriality, and Personal Space

Privacy can be defined as a “selective control of access to the self or to one’s group” (Altman, 1977, p. 67). In other words, the concept of privacy revolves around an individual’s ability to control what personal information is shared with the world and what personal information he or she decides to keep to him or herself. With the advances of technology and social media in the current modern society, a battle between what is public information and what is private information has arisen. The internet has made it so the private lives of individuals (famous or not) are displayed on a screen for anyone to see.

Territory can be defined as a specific area or space that, in some way, belongs to a group, or an individual. According to Altman (1977), there are three types of territory: primary, which is an area used exclusively by a group or person (like an individual’s home); Secondary, which is an area regularly used by a group of person, but shared with others (like someone’s favorite bench on a park); Tertiary, which is a shared space accessible to anyone (like the park itself). Human territoriality can be explained as the need human beings have to defend and mark their territory – just like animals do. Having one’s territory invaded is a source of anxiety and stress.

Personal space is a physical distance that individuals choose to keep within one another. “Personal space is an area with invisible boundaries surrounding a person’s body into which intruders may not come” (Sommer, 1969, p. 26). These invisible boundaries that surround an individual’s body can difference amongst cultures, as some cultures are more open to human contact while others avoid it. Also, personal space is a changeable and evolving concept, and individuals will more likely change their perception about this factor throughout their lives. Both personal space and territoriality are ways for human beings to maintain their privacy.

Privacy, Territoriality, and Personal Space with Population Density Increase

            It is safe to say that when the population density of a specific location increases, the people of that area will suffer the consequences. A large population density stimulates the feeling of being crowded, which leads to individuals becoming more violent than they would normally be in a less populated area. With that, individuals will suffer not only from anxiety and social withdraw, but also from the increase of criminal and violent acts – as a result of people feeling more aggressive (Stokols, 1995). To avoid these negative symptoms, it is important for individuals who live in an overpopulated area to try and preserve their privacy and their personal space. Respecting the territoriality of those around may be a challenge, but it is crucial to maintain a balanced and stabilized society.

            A study performed by John Calhoun compared the lives of individuals living in a high density population area to the life of rats. He learned from his experiment that when the rats had plenty of space to move around, the rats behaved normally. When the rats’ population increased, they became violent, more territorial, fought more, and some even became cannibalistic (Straub, 2007). Although the concepts are not absolutely transferrable, the study is valid to show that population density certainly affect all beings.

How Nature Affects individuals in Urban Environments

            With the fast-moving life in urban cities, it is often for the population to suffer from stress, anxiety, and even heart problems, as results of the high population density and the issues that accompany the situation. The presence of controlled natural environments within big cities, such as zoos, parks, and any other green areas has been proven to help individuals relief stress and consequently avoid more serious health issues. The stressful lifestyle of big urban cities involves juggling busy schedules, family, friends, while trying to avoid violent acts and traffic. Nature allows individuals to recharge their abilities, while feeling restored and rejuvenated. Urban natural environments allow individuals to have access to the restorative powers of nature without having to travel to distant mountains or beaches. “Natural settings are often proclaimed for their capacity to instill a sense of peace and serenity. They are not usually described as hectic or rushed. Somehow, tranquility is more readily achieved in the natural context. But such settings need not lack in excitement, vibrancy, awesome- ness, or sensory richness. In the presence of nature it seems possible to combine the exciting and the serene” (Kaplan, 1984, p.190).

How Noise Affects Individuals

Excessively noise environments have been proven to cause negative impacts on human health. Consequences to an over-exposure to noise can lead to stress, anxiety, high blood pressure and other heart-related diseases (Straub, 2007). The most common health related effect to excessive noise is Noise Inducing Hearing Loss (NIHL). Although adults certainly suffer from the effects of noise, children are even more vulnerable to its impact, as noise can decrease learning ability, short-term memory, and the overall ability to hear, since excessive noise can also lead to hearing loss (Straub, 2007). Chronic noise exposure will hurt children when they learn to block out all types of noise, including the sounds they actually need in order to learn. Noise has also been proven to decrease individuals’ (children or adults) ability to perform simple tasks.

Strategies to Reduce Noise

Life in urban environments is guaranteed to have noise as one of its permanent elements. Although there is not a lot individuals can do to completely block excessive urban sounds (such as ambulances, loud music, fights, traffic sounds, etc.), there are ways to reduce the excessive noise and allow individuals to live a healthy lifestyle, no matter where they live. One easy strategy to reduce excessive noise is the installation of extra fabric over the windows. The extra layer of curtains will provide not only additional insulation – making the cooling and heating bills lower – but it will also block some of the noise coming from the street. Choosing carpet instead of hard wood floors will also muffle and absorb some of the noise coming from outside.

            Another alternative to reduce noise, and consequently stress and anxiety, is playing some kind of white noise constantly. This technique, known as auditory masking, doesn’t necessarily eliminate the noise coming from outside, but instead allows individuals to focus on a soothing and calming sound, instead of the aggressive noise from the streets. White noise is commonly used to sooth babies, but adults can benefit from it as well. White noise can come from an inexpensive machine or from something simple that most homeowners already have, like a fan or any other type of consistent background sound.

Conclusion

            Although the modern world, especially in big urban cities, presents individuals with many things to make their lives easier, it also brings negative elements that can cause psychological distress on many people. Human beings need their personal space, as well as their privacy and their sense of territoriality in order to function properly and normally. Although most individuals’ perceptions regarding these factors are different, the mutual agreement is that all human beings suffer and are impacted by limited space. Inn large and overpopulated cities, where each individual’s personal space is limited, the levels of aggression and crimes are higher than in areas where people have more room. Although this correlation does not necessarily imply causation, it cannot be ignored. Another factor that causes aggression, stress, and anxiety in individuals living in urban environments is the constant presence of noise. This disturbance can create excessive annoyance, leading to diseases, insomnia, and poor social interaction. There are many alternatives to reduce the influence of noise on individual’s daily routine, allowing them to enjoy the benefits and commodities of living in a big urban area, without having to sacrifice their health and well-being.

References

Altman, I. (1977). Privacy regulation: culturally universal or culturally specific? Journal of Social Issues, 33(3), 66-84.

Kaplan, R. (1984). Impact of urban nature: a theoretical analysis. Urban Ecology, 8(3), 189-197.

Sommer, R. (1969). Personal space; the behavioral basis of design. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:
Prentice-Hall.

Stokols, D. (1995, October). The paradox of environmental psychology. American Psychologist, 50(10), 821-837.

Straub, R. O. (2007). Health psychology (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Wor

Psy/460 - Environmental Cues and Human Behavior

Environmental Cues and Human Behavior

The environment is constantly affected by human behavior, both globally and  in a local level. The effects of human behavior on the environment can be positive or negative. Some of the negative effects include climate change, deforestation, extinction of animal species, pollution, noise, etc. Some of the positive effects include the preservation of endangered animal species, the protection of the ozone layer, and the conservation of the resources Earth has to offer. This essay will explore a variety of these effects while explaining the influence of environmental cues on individuals, the importance of sustainability and its impact in the environment, and the effect of social norms in human behavior. It will also present possible solutions to successfully change behaviors and minimize negative environment impact.

Humans’ Impact on the Environment

It is impossible to completely avoid human impact on the environment. Simply by existing and living on the planet Earth, all species, including animals and human beings, will leave a footprint and a mark on the world around them. Although, like mentioned previously, human beings can affect the environment positively, it is the negative impact that is a main cause for concern regarding the planet’s future. In order to make their lives more comfortable and convenient, individuals have adapted to and changed the environment, sometimes without considering the consequences of their actions.

There is graphical evidence, from satellite photos, that indicate that the severe damage caused by humans on the environment is out of control. There is a dangerously large hole in the ozone layer, which is a protective covering around the planet. This layer is destroyed by gases like CO2, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons, which can be found in aerosol spray cans and refrigeration devices. The ozone layer protects the Earth from UV rays from the sun, so holes in the layer can lead to global warming. Humans are the post polluting species, generating much more waste than the planet Earth can deal with (Evans, 1982). Soil pollution, water pollution, and air pollution are some of the most commonly discussed negative effects of human behavior on the environment.

Although the media focuses much more on the negative ways humans impact the environment, there are positive ways individuals leave their mark on the planet as well. For instance, humans control wildfires, which can destroy large areas of forest and the animals that live in them. Also, humans protect endangered species by breeding nearly extinct animals in captivation, and then releasing them back into the wild when there are sufficient numbers of them. Humans also clean waterways, promote the reforestation of damaged areas, and selectively remove invasive species that are threats to local ecosystems.

How Environmental Cues Shape Human Behavior

Environmental cues can be explained as elements in the environment which send important information or trigger effective reactions out of individuals (Steg, 2013). Environmental cues encourage individuals to behave a certain way or engage in certain actions, depending on how those around them respond to those cues. One example of how environmental cues affect human behavior is with recycling. In towns where the inhabitants are encouraged to recycle their trash, most individuals end up doing it. The pressure of those around them incentives individuals to do the right thing.

How Behavior Can be Modified to Support Sustainability

There are many ways individuals can be empowered to change their behaviors and live more sustainably. Although most people want to respect the environment and engage in sustainable behaviors, they continue to create a negative environmental impact. Human behavior is a combination of psychological internal factors and external clues. Because of this, an inclination and motivation to behave sustainably is usually not enough to make individuals change their behaviors. It is important to note that behavior is situational, so “even after a person has formed an intention to behave in a certain way, situational circumstances can lead to a surprisingly different behavior. Intention must be reinforced and supported across different situational contexts” (Manning, 2009, p. 4). Also, it is easier for individuals to engage in sustainable behavior when they encounter fewer obstacles. For example, organic food is more expensive than “regular” food, which can discourage individuals to pick the sustainable route. Some actions created to contribute to sustainability are civil actions (voting, petition signing, etc.), educational actions, financial actions (donations, boycotting specific companies, etc.), and more importantly, direct behavior, like the small changes individuals can make to their routine in a daily basis, like taking the bike to work, buying local produce, insulating their homes, etc. (Manning, 2009).

How Social Norms Can Influence Environmental Behaviors and Beliefs

            Recent studies suggest that pro-environmental behaviors can influence pro-environmental values, and vice-versa. Individuals act a certain way because they not only hold certain values, but also because of different factors, such as economic incentive ("Social Norms, Behavior Influence Environmental Policy", 2013). For example, individuals may engage in recycling because of that economic incentive, but the repetitive act of recycling will create a value for recycling in general. In other words, “if policy dictates a pro-environment behavior, the repeated act of that behavior will become second nature – and even part of a value system – for individuals required to do it. The researchers argue that behavioral change may be the tipping point for real climate change mitigation and one step closer to a sustainable future” ("Social Norms, Behavior Influence Environmental Policy", 2013).

Solutions That Could Change Behavior and Lessen Negative Environmental Impact

            There are many ways how individuals can change their everyday behaviors and start to lessen their impact on the environment. By saving water, electricity, and gas, each individual’s foot print on Earth will be less damaging. Carpooling, taking shorter showers, line drying the clothes, and owning hybrid cars and solar panels are all relatively easy ways to conserve valuable resources. Also, recycling is a staple when it comes to protecting the environment. By repurposing household items, reusing grocery bags, creating a compost pile, and buying bulk food, individuals will be making small changes that will create less waste.

Conclusion

            Although changing the behaviors of the majority of the population on the planet, who has been acting in very destructive ways for the past few decades, is a hefty task. However, nowadays there is a great deal of awareness regarding the dangers that the future holds for planet Earth and all of those living on it, unless severe change occurs. Behavioral change can happen with small steps. When individuals make a conscious decision to reduce their carbon footprint, their personal waste, and the damage there are personally inflicting upon the environment, their impact on the planet can be less damaging. It is impossible to completely avoid any damage, since human beings need to change the environment in order to survive. However, after decades of destroying the planet, now it is time to change and turn the situation around, so there is any hope for future generations.

References

Evans, G. (1982). Environmental stress. New York, NY: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge.

Manning, C. (2009). The psychology of sustainable behavior. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Social norms, behavior influence environmental policy. (2013). Retrieved from https://asunews.asu.edu/20130214_behaviorpolicy

Steg, L. (2013). Environmental psychology: An introduction. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.

Psy/460 - Lake Tahoe Environement

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the United States. It is located along the border of the states of Nevada and California, and it is considered the largest alpine lake in North America. It is also considered the second deepest lake in the United States, with 1,645 feet depth (Goldman, 1981). The Lake Tahoe Basin was formed around 2 million years ago, but today Lake Tahoe is a major touristic attraction. The most popular destinations around the 71 mile-long shore are South Lake Tahoe (CA), Stateline (NV), and Tahoe City (CA).  These settlements receive hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, both during the summer and the winter, for their natural and man-made attractions, such as beaches, mountains, ski resorts, and casinos (in the Nevada side). Because of its popularity, the area has suffered from the constant presence of tourists. However, some of the environmental problems the lake faces are not caused by humans (Goldman, 1988). This paper will point out the primary environmental issues facing Lake Tahoe, as well as presenting possible solutions. The paper will also explain how positive and negative consequences can increase pro-environmental behavior, describe positive and negative examples of the impact that technological advances create on the environment, and assess the influence of environmental policies.

Environmental Issues

Lake Tahoe faces a series of environmental issues, some having natural causes and some being men’s responsibility. One of the most commonly known issues affecting the lake is the algae growth, which has quadrupled since the 50’s, and is a consequence of the abundance of nitrogen and phosphorus in the lake (Constantini & Hanf, 1972).  These nutrients are abundant in the lake because of the accelerated erosion, fertilizer use, car exhaust, and urban runoff. Another issue is pollution, especially in the more urbanized areas around the lake. Pollution includes littler, pathogens, oil and grease, sediments, and nutrients, all of which modify the natural balance of the water (Goldman, 1981).

A recurring factor associated with most environmental issues in the lake is eutrophication, which refers to the effect of the abundance of nutrients. Although eutrophication is a natural cycle part of the aging of the lake, anthropogenic disturbances have accelerated this process. This accelerated process is called cultural eutrophication, and it occurs when the water from precipitations is not filtered by the soil, but instead runs off the surface rapidly and reaches the lake without being filters, bringing into the water impurities, fine particles, and nutrients (Goldman, 1981).

Strategies for Promoting Positive Environmental Behavior

Defining pro-environmental behavior is a difficult task.  It involves making lifestyle choices that are socially responsible and ethic, while reducing one’s ecological footprint. Promoting individuals to change their lifestyle and make more environmentally responsible choices can be difficult, but with the right tools it is possible to encourage the population to preserve and protect their environment.

Unfortunately, the Lake Tahoe area does not have a coordinated effort to promote residents and visitors to take action and protect the watershed and the forests. Although many organizations fight for specific causes, trying to each do their part to preserve the lake, the many different approaches cause confusion and lack of interest by the public. Other than that, the lack of organization results in the mismanaging of financial resources. A solution to engage the population and promote the positive environmental behavior that the lake so desperately needs, is the creation or a unified organization  that will voice the worries, concerns, and strategies of all the different groups fighting for the preservation of Lake Tahoe. If the population has one group to specifically direct the public’s concerns and questions, it will most likely engage in the fight to protect the local environment. Disorganization and decentralization are the biggest enemies in this fight.

Another strategy to promote positive environmental behavior is to create a community-based social marketing campaign, educating the local population about the current situation of the lake and bringing awareness about the consequences the local environment will have to face unless some serious changes occur. The water clarity levels at Lake Tahoe have significantly decreased over the past few years. The UC Davis Lake Tahoe Environmental Research Center's annual clarity report showed average clarity in 2013 at about 70 feet, a 5-foot decrease from 2012. By showing the population realistic facts about how the environmental health of Lake Tahoe is deteriorating rapidly, it would be possible to engage the whole community in a combined effort to save it.

Pro-Environmental Behavior

            Promoting pro-environmental behavior is a task that can be achieved by both positive and negative methods. Positive and negative reinforcement, as explained by B.F. Skinner, is an effective way to understand and encourage human behavior. In Lake Tahoe, for example, a way to positive reinforce pro-environmental behavior is by offering awards and rewards to individuals or businesses who are actively engaged in promoting the preservation of the lake. The exposure and recognition in the small community would encourage more individuals to act in eco-friendly ways. Negative influences also change an individual’s mind or perception of environmental concerns because these influences can add an extra burden on someone’s life. A negative reinforcement that already exists in the area is a monetary fine that is applied to businesses that leave their vehicles (like for example food trucks) parked in one single area for a long period of time. The communities around Lake Tahoe try to discourage food trucks and drive-thru businesses as much as possible, as they represent an unnecessary added emission of gases in a certain area.

The Impact of Technology on the Environment

            The advances of technology in the modern day can impact the environment both positively and negatively. One of the positive impacts that technology has made in the Lake Tahoe area is the fact that it has brought the community together. Individuals now have access to all the information they need in order to make educated life choices that won’t damage the environment any further. The community can be informed about events and campaigns being put together to raise funds and awareness to Lake Tahoe and its needs. On the negative side, in a more general aspect, the population’s constant use of technology has drastically raised the amount of energy consumed in the world. This excessive consumption affects the environment greatly, since a lot of the energy produced in the world comes from water reserves.

The Influence of Environmental Policies

            In general, if applied correctly and fairly, environmental policies can be a great help to the environment. There are currently policies and regulations to limit the amount of exhaust emissions cars can release into the air, as well as the amount of pollutants factories can release into the atmosphere. However, as it is the case with most areas where politics is involved, the rules don’t work the same for everyone. Although most environmental policies promote eco-friendly and sustainable behavior, there are loopholes in most legislations that allow companies and organizations to get away with destroying the environment. Since legislations vary from state to state, the average citizen has little impact on the results expected from these policies. However, when environmental policies reach individuals on a more personal level, like for example on a small community like Lake Tahoe, is it much easier for individuals to understand and respect the legislation, because they can witness with their own eyes the needs for it. An example of an effective but unpopular environmental policy in Lake Tahoe is the recent regulation of construction along the shoreline. Although this policy is not popular with many residents who want to have beach-front homes, is protects the lake from the excessive construction that has made the waters cloudy (Byron & Goldman, 1989).

Conclusion

            Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The weather is usually perfect, there is plenty of snow, but the summers are still long and warm. The community is kind and engaged in preserving the lake. The local slogan is “Keep Tahoe Blue”, and it is possible to constantly hear locals saying that to tourists. The community is very protective of the lake, since the locals are the ones who enjoy it year-round. Currently there are many groups engaged in preserving the lake, and all they need is some organization. A unite group that will join forces in efforts to keep the lake clean and clear is crucial to make sure future generations can enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

References

Byron, E. R., & Goldman, C. R. (1989). Land-use and water quality in tributary streams of Lake Tahoe, California-Nevada. Journal of Environmental Quality, 18(1), 84-88.

Goldman, C. R. (1981). Lake Tahoe: two decades of change in a nitrogen deficient oligotrophic lake. Proceedings-International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology, 1980.

Goldman, C. R. (1988). Primary productivity, nutrients, and transparency during the early onset of eutrophication in ultra-oligotrophic Lake Tahoe, California-Nevada. Limnology and Oceanography, 33(6), 1321-1333.

Costantini, E., & Hanf, K. (1972). Environmental Concern and Lake Tahoe: A Study of Elite Perceptions, Backgrounds, and Attitudes. Environment and Behavior, 4(2), 209-242.