Within a densely populated area health concerns are ever
increasing as urban and ambient noise increases; thus, stress, anxiety, and
tension are the underlying currents of many densely populated environments
(Moudon, 2009). This can become an even greater
health concern as people struggle for territory, privacy, and personal space in
such conditions. In an effort to
mitigate the stressful effects of crowding, many communities are working to
bring natures healing qualities to urban lifestyles and are seeking
alternatives to offset the effects of noise on individuals.
The Concepts of
Territoriality, Privacy, and Personal Space
Territoriality. According to Augustin (2009), territoriality
is the act of defending or controlling a specific area or space. The best way to accomplish this task is by
way of personalization; thus helping to preserve one’s sense of ownership. Adding boundaries (e.g., fences, doors, or
even a carpet), changing colors, or variations in the architectural design of building
foundations (e.g., ceiling height, elevation, etc.) is a way to identify who
owns what, for “[p]eople feel more powerful in their own territory” (Augustin,
2009, p. 83). “Empirical evidence,” Veitch
(2008) tells us, “shows that buildings influence our health and well-being and
that choices made in their design, construction, and operation can lead to
benefit or harm” (p. 286).
Privacy. Both audio and visual privacy are important;
however, Augustin (2009) indicates the ability to block out the voices of others
is more beneficial than not seeing them.
Although there is no doubt that the most important aspect of privacy is
the ability to choose if and when one will interact with others, or not
(Augustin, 2009). There are times when a
few close friends can be comforting, but humans need the restorative benefits
of privacy from time to time. Privacy
can be achieved through different means depending on one’s culture. People from Eastern cultures avoid eye
contact with others and devote a large amount of mental energy on ignoring the
goings on around them; thus they need a smaller area of privacy (Augustin,
2009). While other cultures may need
larger areas of privacy and use techniques such as not talking to each other,
or they may use physical barriers for privacy (e.g., walls, and doors). Regardless of the style of privacy (i.e.,
mental or physical barriers) without the restorative benefits of its solace,
there is evidence of cardiovascular and mental health issues with the
overexposure of noise and other forms of crowding (Veitch, 2008).
Personal Space. One’s culture most often depicts appropriate
personal space; that personal invisible bubble of distance that people keep
between themselves and others. The size
of which, according to Augustin (2009), “varies from situation to situation as
well as from culture to culture, and it is used to communicate important
relationship information” (p. 120). Less
personal space is required between people who are familiar with each other (e.g.,
spouse or sibling) than with those who may be friends or business acquaintances. The size of one’s personal space can also be
determined by many other factors; the number of others in the area, one’s
physical condition, height, age, or gender.
For example “men generally have larger personal spaces than women in the
same situation… [and] respond more negatively to personal space invasions than
women” (Augustin, 2009, p. 78). Personal
space invasions can create intense anxiety, stress, and social awkwardness,
thus many people avoid eye contact, change positions (for an easy exit), or
include more familiar faces as ways to alleviate the tensions of personal space
issues.
Concepts Under Denser
Populations
Several studies have shown that normal function under a
denser population is negatively affected.
Paulus, Annis, Seta, Schkade, & Matthews (1976), also found “…that
crowding can produce negative psychological effects on humans” (p. 248). With an inability to recognize and set
personal boundaries, struggles over territory increase and privacy is lost
because of the lack of personal space in the denser population. Paulus, et. al., (1976) and Steg (2013) agree
that stimulus overload and arousal negatively affect task performance, thus,
demanding environmental conditions lead to a greater need for privacy and a
reduction in social interaction. However,
crowding in urban settings remain high; “75% of the population in developed
countries lives in dense urban areas” (Habitat, 2001 as restated by van den
Berg, Hartig, & Staats, 2007). Therefore,
it is increasingly more important that psychological and individual territorial
boundaries be established so that people have a healthier physiological
attitude and can prepare themselves for reduced personal space and effective
privacy options. As has been
established, people are better able to mitigate negative situations when he or
she is aware of what is ahead (Augustin, 2013).
Natures Effect on
Urban Environments
In the often over-crowded and demanding urban setting elements
of nature bring a sense of comfort, health, and well-being (Steg, 2013). Research reflects that residents who have
contact with “green spaces and elements” have more psychological restoration; in
effect a buffer from the noise, fear, and stressors of urban life (Steg, 2013,
p. 100). Several studies completed by
Ulrich (1984) & Ulrich, et. al., (1991), states Veitch (2008), reflect that
post-surgery patients with views of nature report less pain and quicker recovery
times than those without views of nature elements. Human desire for contact with nature may even
be innate; a reach for that evolutionary element in which the human race
evolved (Orians & Heerwagen, 1992; & Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989 as
restated by van den Berg, et. al., 2007).
Regardless, the psychological and physical restorative benefits that
people perceive from natural environments are real. For those who live in urban areas zoos,
parks, and gardens designed to emulate natural settings are the choice places
to escape from the stresses of civilization.
Such manmade natural environments provide locations that are not only
beautiful but relatively easy to access and are perceived as safe (van den
Berg, et. al., 2007). Even today there
are cities that implement green urban designs (e.g., “…green roofs, tree-lined
parking lots, inner communal gardens, green building facades…”) and they are
expected to increase as populations become even denser; a way to provide urban
residents’ the restorative green environment needed to maintain optimal
homeostasis (van den Berg, et. al., 2007, p. 91-92).
Noise and its Effect
on Individuals
Sound is one of the seven senses in which humans use to
communicate with his or her world; however, chronic exposure to noise can
disrupt reading acquisition, cause memory impairment, and physiological stress
responses in children as-well-as adverse effects on the cardiovascular health
of adults too (Moudon, 2009, & Veitch, 2008). In densely populated areas, ambient sounds
are difficult to regulate; thus the EPA has delegated the establishment and
regulation of noise to many different agencies: airport noise to the Federal
Aviation Administration; vehicular traffic (the leading source of noise
pollution according to Moudon (2009)) to the US Department of Transportation
and other state-level counterparts (Moudon, 2009). That said, businesses and individuals do have
other ways in which to mitigate some of the negative effects of urban noise in
the home and workplace.
Reducing Noise
Natural barriers. An effective method of noise reduction is the
use of natural barriers (e.g., plants, shrubs, and trees). Ropuš, Alar, and Runje (2013) report that
placing plants close to the noise source absorbs a greater amount of the
acoustical energy of the sound and scatters it in diverse directions including
the atmosphere. The complexity of the
plants height, leaves, and branch structure influences the scattering of those
acoustical waves and the amount of sound that escapes. Thus, deciduous plants are more effective at noise
reduction in the summer than in the winter (Ropuš, et. al., 2013). However, the use of natural barriers indoors
can serve a dual purpose, to reduce noise and provide a restorative
environment.
Soundscaping. Because humans cannot turn off their auditory
system, per se, they can mitigate the damaging sounds within their environment
to provide a more healing and restorative atmosphere (Augustin, 2009). Sound waves bounce off surfaces until its
energy dissipates. Music has the ability
to energize, relax, or intrigue; it distracts from the external noise keeping
the brain alert and focused, it also influences emotional response by its tone
and rhythm. White noise, often referred
to as background noise (e.g., fan, radio static, moving water, etc.), can aid
in concentration and mood by making irritating or distracting noise more
difficult to hear. In addition to white
noise, adding soft surfaces (e.g., upholstered furniture, pillows, etc.) and
wall hangings (e.g., paintings and curtains) to a room can disburse sound waves
even more and make the space even quieter (Augustin, 2009).
Conclusion
Territoriality, privacy, and personal space are key to
well-being in a densely populated environment.
Eliminating the negative physiological effects of crowding can be as
easy as mitigating the abundance of noise caused by overcrowding and adding
restorative places for people to visit. Why…
because plants and other environmental green spaces have a way of healing the
psychological stresses that crowding creates.
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