Introduction
The
interaction between humans and the environment is constructed as binaries
featuring the human being as the subject and the environment as an object. The
interaction includes various issues and challenges humans and non-human agents
face. It is the relationship between a person’s psychological and physical
capacities and the demands placed on those capacities by the person’s social
and physical environment.
Theoretical
frameworks to demonstrate human and environment interactions are: -
1. Environmental
determinism
2. Environmental
Possibilism
1. Environmental
determinism – It is based
on the idea that the “environment shapes human culture.” It shows that the
environment and its factors determine the cultural components of humankind in
the form of traits and complexes. It is considered the determiner of overall
human behaviour and attitude, culturally and socially. Determinism defines
human beings’ societal behaviour into different categories or groups by shaping
culture and cultural components.
2. Environmental
Possibilism – It has
emerged as antagonistic to determinism, suggesting that environmental factors
do not determine but enable or limit culture. Natural environmental factors
such as climate, topography, and natural resources can provide opportunities
and constraints which can influence human societies but do not solely determine
their development. But the possibilism suggests that humans have the ability to
adapt to and modify their surroundings to meet their needs and goals.
Environmental possibilism acknowledges the influence of the natural environment
on human societies but emphasises the role of human agency in adapting to and
shaping their environment to suit their needs.
Holland
(1997) in his person-environment theory suggested that behaviour is a function
of congruence between a person and the psychological environment. People enter
an environment because they have interests and personalities similar to others
in the environmental settings. Because they find such environments reinforcing
and satisfying, they not only will stay there but will be more productive as
well. If congruence between person and environment does not exist, the person
is more likely to change settings.
Moos
(1991) developed an integrated conceptual framework and related assessment
procedures for understanding the dynamic features of environments. He developed
a five-panel, socioecological model of human adaptation.
Panel I – Environment System (continuous life stressors and social resources in
various life areas, including school, family, and work)
Panel II – Personal System (person’s demographic characteristics and personal
resources such as self-esteem, cognitive ability, problem-solving skills, and
needs and value orientations)
Panel III – Life Crises and Transitions (Joint impact of factors
of Panel I and II)
Panel IV – Cognitive Appraisal and Coping Responses
Panel V – Effectiveness of Panel IV
Concluding,
fostering optimal human functioning apparently requires considering the
potential variations in the strength of relationships, personal growth, and
system maintenance factors in school, work, and family settings.
Applications
Humans
interact with the immediate environment to meet their psychological, biological
and social needs. This interaction is reciprocal, where people influence their
environment and get influenced by it. Mutual interaction has its own important
applications.
1. Leisure
Psychology – A
heightened state of psychological awareness (“flow”) occurs when the skills of
the individual match the challenge of the activity. Boredom occurs when the
individual’s skills are greater than those needed to meet the challenge.
Frustration, anxiety, or fear occurs when the individual does not possess the
skills required for success in the activity.
3. Prediction
of attraction – The
perception of similarity between the two individuals is an important aspect
prediction of attraction and love.
4. Studying
Driver’s behaviours –
The person-environment interaction has contributed significantly to studying
drivers’ behaviour. Driving is a function of the driver’s personality, culture
and immediate environmental factors.
5. Negotiation
- It refers to an
ongoing process during a person-environment interaction in which an individual
and the environment adjust to accommodate each other. The factors linked to
negotiation at both the individual and the organisational levels include
flexibility, adaptive behaviour, acceptance, resilience, and problem-solving
appraisal.
6.
Participation -
Participation is the degree of positive interactions between a person and an
environment in the psychological, physical, and emotional domains. The factors
such as flow, skill, and mindfulness relates to participation.
7.
Evaluation - Evaluation
involves the bidirectional appraisal of the self and the other in the
person-environment unit. It consists of individuals’ thoughts and feelings
about themselves and their environment as a result of their interactions.
Positive psychological constructs that could relate to aspects of evaluation
include responsibility, loyalty, belonging, self-efficacy, satisfaction,
subjective well-being, and optimism.
8. Goal
Attainment – Refers to
positive outcomes associated with person-environment interactions. Goal
attainment can occur at either the individual level, referred to as personal
achievement, or the contextual level, called environmental enhancement.
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