The Attention Restoration Theory (ART) - Research Paper Example

Itstitution WK Action Research Assignment Background: The Attention Restoration Theory (ART) (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989: Kaplan, 1995), was developed by Stephen and Rachel Kaplan to explain the positive effects exposure to nature and architecture has on human beings. According to ART, natural and certain built environments provide relatively good opportunities for psychological restoration, because transactions with natural and built environments possess several qualities that, in combination, emerge less commonly in other types of environments’. ART promotes four facets that are necessary for an environment to be therapeutic: (1) Being Away, (2) Fascination, (3) Environmental Extent, and (4) Compatibility. First, being in nature gives a person a sense of (1) Being Away, from daily routines that impose demands on directed attention. Second, natural and certain built environments contain many esthetically pleasing stimuli, and they encourage processes of exploration and sense making, and these attract and hold a person’s attention effortlessly and to some extent involuntarily. This quality, which is assumed to be rooted in evolutionary history, is called (2) Fascination, and can refer to people, animals, water, and fire and involves learning processes problem solving and distraction. Furthermore, the natural and certain built environments allow a sense of (3) Environmental Extent, due to coherence in the experience of the environment and the scope for continued exploration. Finally, experiences in natural and certain built environments typically involve a high degree of (4) Compatibility & Purpose, that is to say, what the person wants to do in the environment matches well with what the environment affords and what the environment requires. Works cited Kaplan, S., & Kaplan, R. (1989). The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. New York: Cambridge University Press. Kaplan, S. (1995). The Restorative Benefits of Nature: Toward an Integrative Framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 15, 169-182. (1.) Fascination (Kaplan, 1995), equals when I visualize picture ___A___ I experience Reflection. (A.) (B.) (C.) (D.) Explanation: The natural surrounding is filled with fascinating stimuli, such as shadows, water and green plants, and is full of detail which offfers the the opportunity for continuing reflection. Additionally, the natural environment is comaptibele with a variety of personal purposes since it is softly fascinating. The fascination derived from this setting is exceptionally helpful since it captures attention but does not command all of it. The natural scenes and processes, such as cool still water and fresh plants hold attention while still allowing the viewer to reflect, sustain a train of thought, or partake in conversation. The pleasure derived from engagement by natural stimuli helps to ease potentially painful meditation. This landscape is likely to induice reflection, improve moods and increase the restorative experience. The more natural and lively setting is an appropriate setting for reflection compared to the other dull surroundings. It contains scenes of interesting yet lively elements that are captivating and sets the mood for reflcetion. (2.) Being Away (Kaplan, 1995), equals when I visualize picture __C____ I experience Relaxation. (A.) (B.) (C.) (D.) Explanation: A visualization of the scene of a large body of cool still water is relaxing and restful. When I picture myself in this setting, my ability to direct attention is restored and stress is alleviated.this is a significant implications for improving my wellbeing and quality of life. This landscape offers an ideal setting full of restoration and tranquility that is more stable compared to other favored elements. Water is easiest to control while the other settings like coherence and mystery are difficult to evaluate objectively (Berman et al., 2008). This setting offers a positive transformation in feelings of sadness, attention, and fear in comparison to natural landscapes without any water. This gives a positive effects on emotions and a break away from the urban setting. A landscape with a large body of water like the one above also has a high degree of openness, naturralness and coherence which is relaxing when visualized. The calm surface and clean water with reflactions on the surface offers maximum relaxing potential. (3.) Environmental Extent (Kaplan, 1995), equals when I visualize picture ___C___ I experience Positive Distraction. (A.) (B.) (C.) (D.) Explanation: When I visualize picture C, the still water and serene scene surrounded by green trees together with the undulating shoreline gives a good prospect and ample opportunity for refuge. The water adds comlexity to this landscape since it is a form in itself thus acting as a positive distraction. The though of water and its related biological and geomorphic processes that lead to the formation of the rest of the landscape offers a positive distraction. The water also represents mystery which leads to positive distraction and an increased preference and restoration. The vegetative and geologic material in the setting with water provides richer in-depth nods compared to other landscapes. This is both distracting and creates the notion of near and far. (4.) Compatibility & Purpose (Kaplan, 1995), equals when I visualize picture ___A___ I experience Positive Engaging Action. (A.) (B.) (C.) (D.) Explantation: When I visualise being at the zoo, the experience seems to be more coherent and less threatening than wilderness. In addition, the animals in a quiet and confined setting make the the area much easier to navigate without involving directed attention. This is an ideal setting for positive engaging action that restores the ability to direct attention which helps to control anxiety and lower stress. The improved capacity to focus both aids in working through my concerns and and helps me set aside any anxieties so as to function normally. I vizualize the experience at this setting as extremely relaxing as i can benefit greatly from the contact with nature especially when I find myself in extremely difficult circumstances. Natural environments or landscapes with large green vegetation might be considered suitable restorative surroundings particularly if they exhibit all the four of the properties that characterize restorative environments as indicated by Stephen Kaplan and most concisely described in by Ouellette, Kaplan, and Kaplan in a latter publication i.e. fascination, the sense of being away, extent, and compatibility. Work cited Berman, M.G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological Science, 19, 1207-1212. Read More