Environmental psychology

Within the field of environmental psychology, a theoretical perspective on the health effects of nature has developed. This chapter begins with a discussion of theories on scenic beauty and environmental preference as a backdrop for understanding which environments are benign for human health and well-being. It then reports on theories on the restorative, or stress-relieving, effects of contact with natural environments. The third section discusses advances in environmental psychology, including theories on basic visual processes that may underlie restoration. The chapter concludes with some closing comments regarding the contribution of environmental psychology to health promotion, along with suggestions for new directions in theorizing and empirical research