Chapter 8 Psychology And Life

Human-Environment Relationship

The relationship between humans and their environment is a dynamic interplay where each influences the other. Environmental psychology studies this interaction, considering physical, social, work, and cultural aspects. The environment can be natural (untouched by humans) or built (modified by humans, like cities and buildings), with the built environment reflecting human creativity, control, and influence on social interactions.

Different perspectives exist on this relationship:

• Minimalist Perspective: Assumes negligible environmental influence on behavior and well-being.
• Instrumental Perspective: Views the environment primarily as a resource for human comfort and use.
• Spiritual Perspective: Emphasizes respecting and valuing the environment, recognizing the interdependent relationship between humans and a healthy ecosystem.

Traditional Indian views, like those of the Bishnois and the Chipko movement, align with the spiritual perspective, valuing nature and actively protecting it.

Box 8.1: The Bishnois and the Chipko Movement highlights examples of community efforts to protect the environment based on spiritual values and a deep connection with nature.

Environmental Effects On Human Behaviour

The environment significantly impacts human perception, emotions, occupation, lifestyle, and attitudes.

• Perception: Environmental features, like architecture or natural landscapes, can influence perceptual judgments (e.g., susceptibility to geometric illusions).
• Emotions: Natural beauty can evoke joy, while natural disasters can cause severe emotional distress, depression, helplessness, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Occupation, Lifestyle, and Attitudes: The natural environment influences occupations (agriculture, industry, hunting), which in turn shape lifestyles and attitudes (e.g., cooperative attitudes in agricultural societies vs. competitive attitudes in industrial societies).

Human Influence On The Environment

Human actions, driven by the desire for comfort and control, often modify the natural environment, leading to both beneficial (built environment) and detrimental effects.

Noise

Noise, defined as annoying or irritating sound, can negatively impact mood, concentration, task performance (especially on difficult tasks), sleep, and mental health. Its effects depend on intensity, predictability, and controllability. Uncontrollable, unpredictable, and intense noise is most disruptive.

Pollution

Air, water, and soil pollution, stemming from household and industrial waste, pose hazards to physical health and can have psychological effects. Toxic substances can affect the nervous system, leading to reduced concentration, increased anxiety, and potentially serious mental disorders. Unpleasant environments and the psychological impact of chemical leaks (e.g., Bhopal gas tragedy) highlight the damaging consequences of pollution.

Crowding

Crowding is the stressful feeling of discomfort due to too many people or things in a limited space, leading to reduced privacy, loss of control, and negative emotional reactions. While density (persons per space) is a factor, personal experience, cultural norms, and the nature of social interaction influence whether crowding is perceived as stressful. High density can lead to aggression, reduced cognitive performance, and poorer academic outcomes for children.

Personal space—the comfortable distance individuals maintain—is violated in crowded situations, contributing to negative reactions. Cultural differences influence perceptions of crowding and reactions to it.

Activity 8.1 explores preferences for personal space in different social situations.

Natural Disasters

Natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, tsunamis) and man-made disasters (wars, industrial accidents) are extreme stressors causing immense damage to life and property. They often lead to psychological disorders like PTSD, characterized by disorientation, physical symptoms, emotional distress (grief, fear, helplessness), cognitive disturbances (memory loss, nightmares), and social withdrawal. Preparedness (warnings, safety measures) and post-disaster support (counseling, rehabilitation) are crucial for mitigating effects.

Promoting Pro-Environmental Behaviour

Pro-environmental behavior includes actions that protect the environment and promote a healthy ecosystem. Strategies to foster such behavior include:

• Reducing noise and air pollution (e.g., proper vehicle maintenance, discouraging honking, avoiding smoking).
• Managing waste effectively (separating waste, composting, proper disposal of industrial/hospital waste).
• Reducing plastic use and non-biodegradable packaging.
• Planting trees and conserving forests.
• Adhering to environmental laws and design principles.

Psychological understanding of environmental issues can guide individuals and communities towards more sustainable practices.

Activity 8.2 involves role-playing scenarios to understand counseling approaches for disaster victims with PTSD.

Psychology And Social Concerns

Psychology offers insights into significant societal issues like poverty, discrimination, aggression, violence, and health, providing understanding of their causes and potential solutions.

Poverty And Discrimination

Poverty is a condition of lacking basic necessities, often exacerbated by unequal wealth distribution, social disadvantage, and discrimination. Psychologically, poverty is linked to lower aspirations, reduced achievement motivation, poor self-esteem, anxiety, a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness, and a focus on the immediate present due to perceived uncertainty.

Discrimination, often rooted in prejudice and social disadvantage (like caste), prevents the poor from accessing opportunities, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. Socio-psychological approaches highlight that poverty is not just economic but also involves social injustice and exclusion.

Psychological Characteristics and Effects: Poverty impacts motivation (low aspirations, external locus of control), personality (low self-esteem, anxiety), social behavior (resentment), cognitive functioning (lower intellectual performance), and mental health (higher rates of depression, hopelessness).

Major Causes of Poverty: Include natural disasters, generational cycles, individual factors (lack of ability/motivation – a negative view), culture of poverty (belief systems passed down), economic/social/political exploitation, geographic disadvantages, and the poverty cycle itself.

Measures for Poverty Alleviation: Focus on breaking the poverty cycle, promoting self-sufficiency, empowering the poor through education and employment opportunities based on social justice, improving mental health services, and fostering a sense of hope and control. Concepts like 'Antyodaya' and micro-credit aim to uplift the poor and promote empowerment.

Activity 8.3 prompts discussion on how poverty might influence perspectives on proverbs related to risk and reward.

Psychological Characteristics And Effects Of Poverty And Deprivation

Poverty and deprivation negatively affect motivation (low aspirations, external locus of control), personality (low self-esteem, anxiety), social behavior (resentment), cognitive functioning (reduced performance on tasks), and mental health (higher incidence of depression, hopelessness).

Major Causes Of Poverty

Causes include natural and man-made disasters, generational cycles, socio-economic exploitation, geographic disadvantages, and the poverty cycle (low income leading to poor health, education, skills, and motivation).

Measures For Poverty Alleviation

Strategies include breaking the poverty cycle, providing educational and employment opportunities, improving mental health services, empowering the poor, and implementing programs like 'Antyodaya' and micro-credit, focusing on social justice and self-sufficiency.

Aggression, Violence, And Peace

Aggression and violence are significant societal problems, ranging from minor acts to severe crimes. Aggression is behavior intended to cause harm, while violence involves forceful destructive behavior. They can be instrumental (to achieve a goal) or hostile (out of anger).

Causes of Aggression: Include inborn tendencies, physiological mechanisms (brain activation), child-rearing practices (punishment leading to imitation), frustration (the frustration-aggression hypothesis), learning through reinforcement and modeling (observing aggression on TV/media), anger provocation, availability of weapons, personality factors (low self-esteem, high self-esteem), and cultural norms.

Reducing Aggression and Violence: Strategies involve parents and teachers avoiding rewarding aggression, reducing exposure to aggressive models, promoting social justice to lessen frustration, and fostering positive attitudes towards peace and non-violence, as exemplified by Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy.

Box 8.2: Mahatma Gandhi on Non-violence emphasizes non-violence as an active force of soul power, applicable to common people, aiming to win hearts through truth and gentleness.

Causes Of Aggression

Aggression stems from biological factors, learning (reinforcement, modeling), frustration, provocation, availability of weapons, personality traits, and cultural influences.

Reducing Aggression And Violence : Some Strategies

Strategies include positive parenting, reducing exposure to violence in media, promoting social justice, and fostering peace through non-violent means.

Health

Health is viewed holistically, encompassing biological, psychological, and social well-being. While traditional cultures focus on bodily balance for health, Western cultures emphasize the body as a machine. Factors influencing health include cognitions (beliefs about illness and help-seeking), behaviors (lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, substance use), and social/cultural factors (norms influencing health practices, gender roles affecting healthcare access).

Cognitions

Attitudes and beliefs about illness, its causes, and treatment influence help-seeking behavior and adherence to medical advice. Perceptions of pain also play a role.

Behaviour

Lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol use, and sexual behavior significantly impact physical health, influencing the risk of various diseases.

Social And Cultural Factors

Societal norms, roles, and cultural beliefs affect health practices and access to care, sometimes leading to delays in seeking medical attention, particularly for women.

Impact Of Television On Behaviour

Television has a mixed impact on behavior, especially in children. It can be a valuable educational tool but excessive viewing can reduce reading, outdoor activities, and attention span. While some programs promote positive attitudes, others may increase aggression and violence due to modeling. However, the link between watching TV violence and aggression is complex and may depend on other situational factors, with some research suggesting a cathartic effect or no direct impact without other contributing elements. Television also contributes to consumerist attitudes through advertising.

Activity 8.4 encourages students to analyze the information gained from television viewing and its potential positive or negative behavioral influences.