Psychological Reward Values Associated with Wilderness Use

Abstract

Initially, wilderness users suggested about 30 types of rewards they felt they gained from wilderness experience. Importance ratings suggesting the value of these rewards were obtained from a sample of college students. Individual rewards rated most important were tranquility, natural beauty, and escape from the hectic urban pace. Factoring the importance ratings of the 30 reward items yielded five categories of rewards gained in wilderness which were somewhat similar to those found in previous research: emotional or spiritual experience, challenge and adventure, esthetic enjoyment of natural settings, escape from urban stresses, and, perhaps, an antisocietal sentiment. These college students also indicated their expectations for achieving the 30 rewards in five different leisure environments including wildemess. In general, expectations decreased progressively from wildemess, through improved mountain-forest country, parks and other urban outdoor settings, to indoor recreational settings and home. The implications of this pattern were discussed in terms of a potentially diminished opportunity structure if wilderness land becomes unavailable for public use, possibly resulting in socially undesirable Alternative means for gaining rewards.

The role of urban parks for the sustainable city

“…As Bishop et al (2001, p. 119) also recognises "green spaces in a city play an important role in helping residents and visitors to escape temporarily from the crowded streets and buildings: it provides a place to relax". The sense of "escape from the city" has also been found among the most important benefits of wildlife experiences (Rossman and Ulehla, 1977). Furthermore, findings show that the experience of nature in the city is source of a large array of positive feelings to people.…”

The Benefits of Adult Piano Study as Self-Reported by Selected Adult Piano Students

“…Stebbins (1992) found that the reward "Re-Create One's Self" was one of the lowest ranked rewards among barbershop singers. Spirituality was another benefit cited in the field of leisure research (Driver & Bruns, 1999;McDonald & Schreyer, 1991;Rossman & Ulehla, 1977), although it was not mentioned in the reviewed adult music research literature. Although Spirituality was the least agreed upon Personal Benefit in the present study, those who did agree that it existed valued the benefit.…”

Aesthetic and Affective Response to Natural Environment

“…Further, this area of research relates to important questions in environmental planning and design, including, for instance, visuallandscape assessment, the provision of vegetation and parks in eities, and issues of wilderness management and recreation. Concerning the latter, it appears that aesthetic and emotional experiences are the most important benefits realized by many recreationists in the natural environment (Rossman & Ulehla, 1977;Shafer & Mietz, 1969).…”