# Healing power of nature

These notes are based on a guest lecture for the Health Psychology unit of study at the University of Canberra.

## Overview

This lecture provides an introduction to the "healing power of nature" from a psychological point of view. It emphasises psychoevolutionary theory and practical applications.

## Activities

This section involves some experiential activities to heighten personal awareness about our engagements with nature.

### Sensory awareness inventory

Write down as many examples as you can of how you receive pleasure, comfort or enjoyment through each of your five senses:
| Sight | Sound | Touch | Taste | Smell |

#### Discussion

* Circle all the sources of pleasure that involve nature
* Design a "perfect day" which involves receiving at least one favourite source of pleasure through each of your senses
* Consider: Are there more than five senses?

### Favourite place in nature

* Close your eyes
* Take a deep breath in … and out
* Imagine your favourite place in nature
* See yourself visiting that place
* What does it feel like?
* When you’re ready, say goodbye and leave that place
* Then open your eyes
* Find a person near you and share about your favourite place

## History

This section looks at the role of nature in health and well-being through human history.

### Indigenous

* Humans lived deeply in and with nature for hundreds of thousands, if not millions of years
* Thinking, feeling, and behaving was intimately connected to natural environments (land, air, water, plants, animals, weather, ecosystems)

### Industrialisation

* 1000 - 10,000 years ago: Many indigenous cultures became agrarian (farming-based) – Agrarian society (Wikipedia)
* Present - 250 years ago: Many agrarian cultures became industrialised (manufacturing economy) – Industrialisation (Wikipedia)

### Present

* Many people do not live in direct, continuous, daily contact with nature.
* Urbanisation:
* 2018 = 55%
* 2050 = 68% [https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-of-world-urbanization-prospects.html
* Nature deficit disorder (Wikipedia) (Louv, 2008)

### Future

* ↑ Urbanisation
* ↑ Human population
* ↓ Natural environment
* → ↑ Nature deficit disorder?

## Theory

This section explores the main psychologies theories used to understand the healing potential of nature.

### Intersections

This area represents intersections between:
* Health
* Environment
* Psychology

### Psychevolutionary theory

* Evolutionary psychology (Wikipedia)

### Biophilia hypothesis

* Biophilia hypothesis (Wikipedia) (Wilson, 1984)
* Edward O. Wilson's Biophilia Hypothesis (wilderdom.com)

### Attention restoration theory

* Attention restoration theory (Wikipedia)
* Attention restoration theory (Motivation and Emotion Book Chapter, Wikiversity)
* Attention restoration theory (Psychology of natural scenes, Wikiversity)
* Kaplan (1995)

### Stress reduction theory

* Stress reduction theory (Wikipedia)
* Stress reduction theory (Psychology of natural scenes, Wikiversity)
* Ulrich et al. (1991)

## Research

This section highlights some key and illustrative research findings about the healing potential of exposure to nature.

### Natural scenes

* Ulrich (1984): Natural view through a hospital window promoted recovery
* Viewing

### Green space

* Public health

### Green exercise

* Field studies
* Lab studies
* MMORPG exergames

### Nature therapy
#### Nature therapy / ecotherapy

* Adventure therapy
* Animal therapy (e.g., companion animals, equine therapy, mini-zoo keepers)
* Conservation therapy (e.g., mini zoo-keepers)
* Green prescriptions (GRx)
* Horticultural therapy
* Nature meditation

## Slides

* Healing power of nature, 2019 (Google Slides)