At our last Psi Beta/ Psych Club meeting, club member Shelene Alban gave a presentation on Environmental Psychology.
Environmental Psychology focuses on the interaction between human behavior and our physical surroundings. Shelene shared how our environment can have positive effects (for example, bright natural lighting can increase motivation) as well as negative effects (for example, poor lighting may lead to not feeling safe).
She also shared how Environmental Psychology is used to design prisons (check out images of U.S. jail cells vs. those in Norway and think about how they may influence rehabilitation), bathrooms, and product placement in stores.
Lastly, Shelene shared the concept of third spaces, which are informal, easily accessible, free/ low-cost places. These include libraries, parks, and cafes, and are important as they provide opportunities to build community, something crucial to our mental well-being.
Jessica Silver-Sharp from the Skyline College Library also joined the meeting and brought a selection of books on Environmental Psychology that students could check out on the spot.
Thank you so much to Shelene for the wonderful presentation and to Jessica for the collaboration!
