6 Positive Change in Environment: Aesthetics, Environmental Flowability and Well-Being

Abstract

Environmental Psychology states that restoration and environmental preference could be explained by referring to our evolutionary past, or taking into account some of the universal features of the place. This contribution shows an alternative point of view, focusing on the concepts of flow. This chapter focuses on a new framework aiming to establish a link between optimal experiences, psychological well-being and aesthetic judgments, introducing the idea of Flowability as a subjective criterion to evaluate a place and consider it as potentially regenerative.

A Systematic Review of Arts-Based Interventions Delivered to Children and Young People in Nature or Outdoor Spaces: Impact on Nature Connectedness, Health and Wellbeing

“…Arts in nature and outdoor spaces provided an inclusive medium to engage all children and young people, especially those who might otherwise remain disinterested about environmental issues and disengaged with educational programs. These findings echoed similar studies suggesting that connectedness to nature cannot be achieved merely through learning in theory about the environment, but by being exposed to the beauty of nature, the emotions that arise while being in nature, and with sustained contact ( Ryan et al, 2010 ; Rainisio et al, 2014 ; Lumber et al, 2017 ). Furthermore, the sessions provided creative stimuli to increase nature connectivity, understand environmental issues, and explore ways to prevent environmental disasters.…”

“…Interestingly, connectedness to nature has been found to be an even stronger predictor of pro-environmental behavior in children than environmental knowledge ( Schultz, 2002 ; Schultz and Tabanico, 2007 ; Gosling and Williams, 2010 ; Otto and Pensini, 2017 ; Barrable and Booth, 2020 ). Similarly, research suggests that the way that connectedness to nature can be achieved is not through learning in theory about the environment, but by being exposed to the beauty of nature, the emotions that arise while being in nature, and with sustained contact ( Ryan et al, 2010 ; Rainisio et al, 2014 ; Lumber et al, 2017 ). Hence, the concept of spirituality that was explored in the Adams and Beauchamp (2019) study may be especially important to better understand the process through which connectedness to nature can be achieved, and how it enhances pro-environmental attitudes ( Martin et al, 2020 ).…”

Nature Experiences of Older People for Active Ageing: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Co-Design of Community Gardens

“…Such a technocratic approach would be detrimental for an effective participatory approach, consequently diminishing the importance of developmental factors favouring well-being (Prilleltensky et al, 2001 ; Boffi et al, 2016 ) and neglecting the way institutions and inclusive procedures increase the value of procedural utility, which is a source of subjective well-being (Stutzer and Frey, 2006 ). Consistently, with this approach, an eudaimonic perspective on well-being would allow assessments, informing the design of places that are not only restorative from a cognitive point of view but also offering the possibility to reach meaningful objectives for the growth and realisation of an individual (Rainisio et al, 2015 ; Boffi and Rainisio, 2017 ).…”

Physical Activity Flow Propensity

“…An innate affiliation between humans and other living things is one theory that might explain these data (Wilson 1984). Furthermore, it may be possible to regard environments as having a flow propensity similar to the way that we presume such for activities (e.g., Rainisio et al 2014;Bonaiuto et al 2016). We question whether Item complex was double-barreled, asking about "action and the environment."…”