Our surroundings

Formality in Environments

  • Discussion of how different environments convey formality and affect behavior.

  • Environmental Inventory Report: Assessing environments on several dimensions:

    • Formality level

    • Personal feelings of constraint

    • Distance from others

    • Warmth and inviting nature of the space

Color Psychology and Impressions

  • Research on color meanings and cultural significance in spatial design.

Effects of Colors

  • Blue: Associated with serenity; invokes feelings akin to the sky and sea.

  • Black: Not solely somber; often signifies power, especially in fashion.

    • Example of characters dressed in black to convey strength or power (e.g., Darth Vader).

  • Red: Represents excitement and energy.

    • Notable examples include:

    • Target: Uses red for a stimulating shopping experience.

    • Sports teams in darker colors perceived as more aggressive (research indicates dark uniforms tend to receive more penalties).

Research Study on Team Colors

  • Study focused on high school football teams:

    • Dark (black) uniforms led referees to perceive them as meaner, resulting in more penalties called against them.

  • Cultural references include:

    • Las Vegas Raiders: Known for their black uniforms and “mean” image.

Environmental Color Applications

  • Use of pink in correctional facilities as a calming presence.

    • Referring to Swiss studies where pink on jail walls reduced inmate aggression.

    • The Texas jail claims a 70% reduction in repeat misbehavior with pink jumpsuits.

  • Color Choices in Institutions:

    • Example: Incorrectly using intense pink (e.g., Pepto-Bismol pink) caused heightened agitation after initial calming effects.

    • Pink is also used in certain German jails for preventing disruption among intoxicated individuals.

Color Effects in Specific Locations

  • University of Iowa's Locker Room:

    • Locker room painted pink with intention to calm visiting teams and create an awkward environment.

    • Possible cultural implications associated with masculinity and color perception.

MR Model for Assessing Place Reactions

  • Developed by researchers Moravian and Russell, focusing on three emotional elements:

    • Arousal: Excitement level and energy of the environment.

    • Pleasure: Feelings of happiness or joy associated with the space.

    • Dominance: Sense of control and familiarity within the environment.

Practical Applications of the MR Model

  • Assess environments such as hospitals, restaurants, movie scenarios.

  • Explore whether spaces provoke desire to enter or avoid, e.g. experiences in unpleasant institutions.

Significance of Environmental Psychology

  • Study of human interaction with environments, focusing on how surroundings affect perception and behaviors.

  • Establishes a cycle where a negative atmosphere perpetuates poor mental states and actions.

  • Examples include:

    • Glazer Hall: Descriptions of eerie or unpleasant environments deterred positive experiences.

Service Scape in Restaurant Design

  • Concept of Service Scape: Human-designed surroundings that define restaurant atmospheres.

  • Importance of elements that contribute to mood and customer return rates.

  • Example from The Bear series highlights detailed restaurant design aiming to enhance guest experiences:

    • Customization based on guest perceptions and expectations.

Creating Effective Environments

  • Influential factors for atmosphere creation include:

    • Architecture: Architectural style influences mood—older buildings may evoke different responses than modern designs.

    • Furniture and Accessories: Choices can foster warmth and welcome.

    • Lighting: Bright or subtle illumination impacts emotional response.

    • Colors: As discussed earlier, colors have significant emotional ties and effects.

    • Sound and Music: Volume and type of music can influence atmosphere (lively versus subdued).

    • Olfactics:

What time can tell us about people

  • Status: Power dynamics

  • Liking/Disliking - doctor/patient study: when the doctor spends more time with their patients

  • Our cultural background and personality

  • The type of society we live in:

    • Monochronic

    • Polychronic

Chrominics (or Chromatic time) involves a flexible approach to time, placing emphasis on relationships and social interactions rather than strict scheduling.

  • Message-laden aspects of time

  • fairly new field of study

Perceptions of time in a place

  • Time goes by slowly (watching the clock)

  • Time goes by fast (time flies when you're having fun)

Ways to think about time:

  • Individual sense of time

  • Individual time orientation

Monochronic society

  • Time is: Linear, compartmentalized, Measureable - clocks, watches, calendars= important

Polychronic Society:

  • Time is flexible

  • Several things can be done at once

  • If you're late your late (inshallah)

  • Mexico, Spain, the US South