James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2023

PY2109 - The World Around Us: Environmental Psychology

Subject Description

This subject examines the behavioural implications of natural and human-made and modified settings. It is an interdisciplinary, but essentially psychological synthesis of those theoretical and research streams variously labelled ecological psychology, human ecology, environmental perception/cognition, proxemics and behavioural design and it borrows substantially from human biology, human geography, spatial and urban anthropology and the design professions. Subject areas covered include a brief evolutionary perspective, physical environmental factors (such as temperature, information load, periodicity and pollution), personal space and territoriality, human isolation and crowding, human factors research, stress, natural disasters perception and response, environmental design, vernacular architecture and cross-cultural comparisons, urban settings, environmental impact assessment and evolution and general theoretical and methodological considerations.

Learning Outcomes

• critically evaluate why and how environmental psychology has developed as an interdisciplinary and applied area of psychology
• translate knowledge of the diverse theoretical and research literature that informs environmental psychology into practice in an applied setting
• examine the history, nature, theory and methods of environmental psychology in terms of the societal and contextual underpinnings of change to natural and human made environments
• formulate a practical and informed knowledge base of natural and human made and modified settings premised upon existing psychological principles

Subject Assessment

• Written > Poster - (20%) - Individual
• Written > Proposal - (60%) - Individual
• Written > Reflection/reflective task 1 - (20%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Special Assessment Requirements

Passing requirements: achieve a cumulative score of at least 50% after the application of any penalties such as late penalties.

Assumed Knowledge:  To undertake this subject, students must have successfully completed 12 credit points (four subjects) of level 1 study at tertiary level

Inadmissible Subject Combinations:  PY2086

Availabilities