yes, therapy helps!
Environmental Psychology: definition, applications and approaches

Environmental Psychology: definition, applications and approaches

March 25, 2024

In the last decades, the popularity of environmental psychology has greatly increased, which analyzes the relationship between people and the environment, whether natural or created by human beings. In this article we will define environmental psychology and describe its main applications and approaches theoretical and practical.

  • Maybe you're interested: "What is Social Psychology?"

Environmental psychology: definition and object of study

Environmental psychology is a theoretical and applied field of interdisciplinary nature that It deals with studying the interaction between human beings and the environment in which they are . The main focus is the psychological and behavioral variables associated with this relationship.


The object of interest of environmental psychology is broad, as can be deduced from its definition. Any context can be analyzed from the perspective of the relationship between people and the environment, such as the effects of the design of a school classroom on academic performance or the creation of programs to promote sustainable consumption.

Environmental psychology tries to find ways to predict how certain variables of people and the physical environment will influence the interaction between the two in order to optimize it. Although in many cases this discipline It has an ethical component and oriented to the solution of global problems , has many possible uses, such as business.


The fact that this field of study includes many different (and often opposing) sciences and interests has hindered their unity. Although in any discipline different ideologies and points of view coexist on what the shared objectives should be, conflicts of this type are especially notable in environmental psychology.

  • Related article: "The 12 branches (or fields) of Psychology"

Applications of this discipline

The relevance of environmental psychology has been increasing due to the growing need to increase awareness and collective and institutional action against the deterioration of the planet. That is why in the last 50 years There has been an intense relationship between environmental psychology and environmental movements .

Another application of environmental psychology is the design of architectural environments that enhance the psychological well-being of people who are in them or promote certain behaviors. For example, there are both urban designs focused on stress reduction and shopping centers that favor consumption.


From the point of view of improving the well-being of people, environmental psychology can be useful to the population especially from the public sector , in which planning and investment in social projects is more possible. In this sense, urban planning and other environmental aspects, such as transport or schools, are relevant.

In the field of organizations, the knowledge obtained by environmental psychology can be used to maximize the productivity or well-being of workers . The modification of work environments is one of the most common applications of environmental psychology, which is a good example of the breadth of this discipline.

Theoretical and practical approaches

In environmental psychology different methodological and conceptual approaches coexist, although in general they are complementary. Let's see what are the characteristics of these theoretical-practical orientations.

1. Resolution of environmental problems

The most common scheme of action in the field of environmental psychology begins with the Identification of problems in a specific medium , often but not necessarily with a particular focus on the role of the human being. Then a plan is developed to solve the problem, apply, monitor and correct the errors.

This field is closely related to the movements that defend the environment. Some of the problems in which they intervene more frequently are the improvement of living conditions in disadvantaged environments, the control of the levels of environmental pollution in urban centers and the prevention of forest deterioration or other means.

2. Systems perspective

Environmental psychology focused on systems analyzes the relevant social and psychological factors in a specific area; it is often used in social integration programs. In this context, systems can be understood as human groups but also include other elements that are in the same environment.

3. Space-time orientation

This approach focuses on determining how certain factors of the past influenced problems that occur in the present in a specific place. It is also common to analyze the evolution of one or more variables over time, as would happen when studying the relationship between population density and air pollution.

4. Interdisciplinary approach

The knowledge and methods of environmental psychology are integrated with those of many other disciplines, both within and outside of psychology. Thus, we can highlight the relationship of this field with organizational psychology, cognitive or development, as well as with architecture, interior design, sociology, economics or politics.


Behavioral theory | Behavior | MCAT | Khan Academy (March 2024).


Similar Articles