Motivation and emotion/Book/2023/Viewing natural scenes and emotion

Overview


James has been feeling bored and anxious for the past couple of days as he is unable to leave the house due to bad weather. Lily suggests that they sit down and watch a nature documentary together. After watching the documentary James is feeling less bored or anxious and is now feeling happy.

Previously, being in nature was not something that required active thinking but in modern times and how society is changing it is important to dedicate time out of your day to spend it either in nature or appreciating nature through different media. Since the 19th century the natural environment has be used to ensure both physical and mental health, since society has evolved into more urbanised living individuals need to find other ways to experience nature. Individuals can gain benefits from nature through nature scenes, for example, pictures, documentaries, and even nature sounds. Humans experience nature across all five senses: Sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.



While nature is most commonly referring to the surrounding environment e.g., forests, ocean, desserts, it is also used to describe flora and fauna. Nature is made up of a multitude of components, earth, life, geology, atmosphere, climate, weather, water, and ecosystems. The opposite of nature is unnatural or man-made. This is referring to anything that requires human interference in its creation.

Different theories regarding nature, how humans interact, and are impact by it exist all showing the importance of it. Attention Restoration Theory (ART) suggests that emotional and mental health may improve after spending time experiencing nature. The biophilia hypothesis suggests that humans have a biological connection with nature and seek out that connection.

Focus questions:


 * What is the connection between nature scenes and emotions?
 * How can nature scenes impact mental health and emotions?
 * What are the main theories regarding nature scenes and emotion?
 * What are way you can include nature scenes into your life?

Effects of nature scenes
Humans have been known to enjoy and be affected by nature; this is not only from being in nature but also nature scenes. Viewing nature scenes has been shown to have a multitude of effects on an individual and their emotions, this effect further extends to an individual's mental health, cognitive ability, and psychologically.

Emotional impact


Through multiple studies it has been proven that watching nature scenes can promote positive emotions. The positive effects of these nature scenes have an immediate impact as well as a lasting effect. Studies have proven the correlation between nature scenes and emotion by measuring an individual's mental restorations, self-esteem, attachment, and anger. Different methods of delivering nature scenes have been used; projector, computer, VR, and they have all proven to have a healing effect on an individual's emotions. . While it has been proven that viewing nature scenes has a beneficial impact on an individual emotion, it is argued that experiencing nature in person has a greater emotional impact. Contrary to viewing nature scenes, when an individual view urban or building scenes, they do not have the same reaction as to when they view nature scenes.

Not all researchers agree that nature scenes are beneficial to an individual, it is argued that they are not immersive enough as it does not involve all the human senses. It has been reported that participants have felt a longing to be outdoors, restlessness and even negative emotions after being shown nature scenes.

Mental health impact
The state of an individual's mental health plays an important part in their emotions. When an individual is exposed to positive nature scenes it has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels. Natures scenes also aids in the recovery process after experiencing a stressor. An increase mental state results in an individual have greater positive outlook on life and increase that overall emotional well-being. Similar to emotional impact, the mental health of an individuals does not gain the same benefits from viewing urban or building scenes as to when they view nature scenes.

Attention Restoration Theory
Attention Restoration Theory (ART), proposed by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, suggest that an individual's level of concentration improves after spending time in nature or even looking at nature scenes. Specifically, the nature scenes that have the most benefits a scene with "soft fascinations" that allow for an individual to reflect with minimal strain for attention, for example scenes with moving clouds, leaves rustling, or flowing water.



ART further describes characteristics within a nature scene that are restorative; fascination refers to the awe feeling people get from nature scenes. Being away is the scene's ability to prove an escape from everyday life and worries. Extension the connection an individual has with each element of the scene. Lastly, the compatibility of the scene with an individual.

Typically, during everyday activities our attention is grabbed in a top-down motion which can lead to attention fatigue. Whereas nature scenes draw our attention in a bottom-up motion promoting relaxation and restoration.

ART has been researched and supported by a multitude of studies that have shown an increase in attention levels after viewing nature scenes.



The biophilia hypothesis
The biophilia hypothesis suggests that an individual has an automatic tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. Biophilia hypothesis was proposed by Edward O.Wilson in his book 'Biophilia' where he defines biophilia as "the urge to affiliate with other forms of life". Wilson suggested that this urge to connect with nature is deeply rooted in our biology, including both positive and negative reactions with nature.

The biophilia hypothesis takes on an evolutionary perspective where the urge towards life and nature can be explained partly by our evolutionary history of living in the environments. As we have evolved we as a society have shifted towards an urban focused lifestyle causing a disconnection from nature. The biophilia hypothesis has been researched and supported by studies that have shown a positive relationship between the presents of nature scenes and overall life satisfaction.

Best way to deliver virtual nature
A study conducted by Yeo et al. (2020) explored three different modes of delivering nature scenes (TV screen, 360-VR, interactive VR) and their effects on the participates. In person exposure to nature increases positive effects and decreases negative affects but individuals may not always have access or ability to visit nature. Yeo et al. (2020) tested for a reduction in a negative emotion, boredom, and an increase in positive emotions. Participants were randomly assigned to the different groups; high-definition TV screen, 360-VR video, and an interactive computer-generated VR. The results showed an overall reduction in boredom and negative emotions and an increase in positive emotions and connection to nature. A reduction in boredom and negative emotions was tied between all three groups, a greater increase in positive emotion and connection to nature was shown in groups using the interaction VR over the other groups. These results suggest that no matter the mode of delivery, nature scenes are beneficial for an individual and will improve their overall mood and life.

Nature scenes in isolated, confined, and extreme environments
Anderson et al. (2023) conducted a study using attention restoration theory on participants that experience isolated, confined, and extreme environments for long period of times (8 month and 12-month periods). Immersive VR scenes were used in this study, varied nature scenes through the time periods. Participants acceptance and desire for the VR varied among participants, showing that individuals have different requirements from nature. Overall, the natures scenes were shown to be restorative but after a long period isolation the need for different scenes emerged, specifically scenes including other people. This study showed the individuality between people and their needs, it shows the importance for treatments to be tailored to the individual.

How to incorporate nature into your life


It is important to include nature scenes into your living and workplace as it increases life satisfaction and positive emotions. There are multiple ways you can incorporate nature scenes in your life, these include:
 * Scenic nature pictures around your living space, these can even be pictures you have taken personally.
 * Watching nature documentaries
 * Indoor plants in your home or office space
 * Observing the nature outside through a window
 * Collecting nature to decorate your space

 Morale around the office has been low these last few weeks so you decide to decorate the office with nature pictures you and fellow coworkers have taken. You find that immediately after that the mood around the office has lifted.

Conclusion
Through understanding attention restoration theory and the biophilia hypothesis we can begin to understand the importance of nature on an individual. It has been proven that experiencing nature, even just nature scenes, has beneficial and lasting effects on an individual's emotions and overall well-being. Further study on how individuals in situations that do not allow them to experience nature in-person shows that the benefits of nature (increased positive emotion and decreased negative emotions) are still able to be utilised through different methods. Nature can be experienced through all five of our senses, this means that even just viewing nature is beneficial.

Experience nature scenes can be applied in a couple ways, including having pictures postered {{sp} in your living area, watching documentaries, and experiencing nature through virtual reality. All these methods have been proven to have an impact on an individual's emotions and well-being. It is simple for an individual to be able to implement nature into their life.