Environmental Psychology and Sustainability

Environmental psychology as an institutionally and conceptually unified sub-sector of psychology exploring the interaction between human and physical, social and natural environments. The formation of environmental psychology in an interdisciplinary context at the intersection of psychology, sociology, architecture, urban planning and environmental sciences. Environmental protection as a normative, political and socially structured area of practice where human behaviour is a central influence factor. Basic concepts and guiding principles of environmental psychology: environment as a space of experience, human environment system, sustainable development. The role of environmental psychology in understanding the challenges of modern society in terms of climate change, resource depletion and biodiversity loss.

Human perception of the environment as an active, subjective, and culturally embodied process. Psychological mechanisms of perceiving physical environments, natural landscapes, and urban spaces. The role of sensory, cognitive, and emotional processes in shaping environmental experience. Symbolic meanings of environments, place identity, and sense of belonging. Differences in perceiving natural versus built environments and their impact on well-being, perceived safety, and behavior. Basic principles of environmental aesthetics and landscape perception

Environmental perception and individual differences in environmental experience. Place attachment, place identity and the meaning of place in human life. Environmental stress and its sources. Psychological impacts of urban environments. Restorativeness of natural and built environments and restoration of psychological resources. The role of green infrastructure in human well-being and human–environment interaction. Environmental protection legislation and policy frameworks relevant to the topic in the European Union and Latvia. Central question: Why do different environments affect us differently — and why does the same environment affect different people differently?

Effects of the physical environment on psychological well-being, health, and behaviour. Environmental stress and its sources. Restorative qualities of natural and built environments and psychological resource recovery. The role of natural environments and green infrastructure in human well-being. Individual differences in environmental effects and experiences. Relevant environmental protection legislation and policy frameworks in the European Union and Latvia.

The role of the social environment in human relationships with the environment. Social norms, social identity and group influence on environmental attitudes and behaviour. Collective action dilemmas and public participation in environmental protection. Social and cultural factors in the perception and interpretation of environmental problems. Environmental protection legislation and policy frameworks relevant to the topic in the European Union and Latvia. Central question: Why does my environmental behaviour also depend on what other people do?

Psychology-based approaches to promoting pro-environmental behaviour. Environmental risk perception and communication. Information provision and message framing. The use of social norms in behaviour change. Nudging and choice architecture. Modification of the physical environment and participation as tools for behaviour change. Development and evaluation of sustainable behaviour interventions. Environmental protection legislation and policy frameworks relevant to the topic in the European Union and Latvia. Central question: If we know why people behave in a certain way, how can we change that behaviour?

The concept of the psychological connection between humans and nature (nature connectedness) and its role in psychological functioning and well-being. Key theoretical approaches explaining the restorative effects of natural environments: the Biophilia Hypothesis, Attention Restoration Theory (ART), and Stress Reduction Theory (SRT). The effects of natural environments on stress, emotions, attention, cognitive fatigue, and psychological well-being. The distinction between exposure to nature and intentional nature-based psychological interventions.

The concept, definitions, and theoretical foundations of nature-based interventions. Classification and main types of nature-based interventions. Structured and unstructured, individual and group-based, active and passive forms of engagement with nature. Forest therapy and forest bathing, nature-based mindfulness practices, walking interventions, gardening/horticultural interventions, ecotherapy, and other nature-based approaches. The interrelationship between the intervention aim, theoretical rationale, mechanisms of action, and expected psychological outcomes.

The use of nature-based psychological interventions across different target groups. Mapping of research and interventions in clinical and non-clinical populations. Interventions for children and adolescents, students, adults, older adults, and professional groups. The use of nature-based interventions to reduce stress, burnout risk, and emotional overload and to promote well-being in non-clinical populations. Interventions for individuals experiencing mental health difficulties and those with clinical diagnoses. Differences between clinical and non-clinical interventions in terms of aims, intensity, implementation, professional competence requirements, safety, and ethical considerations. Scientific evidence regarding intervention effectiveness and its limitations.

Principles for the development of nature-based psychological interventions. Identification of the target group and its psychological needs. Formulation of the theoretical rationale and the proposed mechanisms of change. Selection of intervention components, setting, duration, frequency, and intensity. Safety, accessibility, and ethical considerations. Evaluation of intervention outcomes and effectiveness, including psychological, cognitive, behavioural, and nature-connectedness-related outcomes; pre–post assessment, comparison groups, and qualitative evaluation of participants’ experiences. Critical appraisal of scientific evidence.

Environmental education as a long-term instrument for behavior change. Formal and non-formal education approaches in shaping environmental awareness. Psychological aspects of public participation in environmental decision-making. The importance of community initiatives and civic engagement in environmental protection.

Trends and challenges in the development of environmental psychology. The role of digital technologies and data in influencing environmental behavior. Integration of policy-making and psychological knowledge in the context of sustainable development. Future scenarios of human–environment relationships and the role of environmental psychology in societal change.

Measurement of environmental attitudes and behavior in environmental psychology and its relevance for empirical research. Quantitative instruments, including surveys, self-report scales, and behavioral observations. Qualitative methods, such as interviews and focus groups, and their application in the study of attitudes and behavior. Principles of designing experiments and observational studies, operationalization of variables, and data analysis possibilities. Methodological limitations and interpretation opportunities in environmental psychology research.

Measurement of environmental attitudes and behavior in environmental psychology and its relevance for empirical research. Quantitative instruments, including surveys, self-report scales, and behavioral observations. Qualitative methods, such as interviews and focus groups, and their application in the study of attitudes and behavior. Principles of designing experiments and observational studies, operationalization of variables, and data analysis possibilities. Methodological limitations and interpretation opportunities in environmental psychology research.

Design of behavior change interventions in the context of environmental psychology and their relevance for promoting sustainable actions. Integration of theoretical frameworks and empirical data to identify motivational, normative, and contextual factors influencing sustainable behavior. Principles of intervention design, operationalization of goals and variables, and evaluation methods. Methodological limitations and assessment of effectiveness in environmental behavior interventions.

Design of behavior change interventions in the context of environmental psychology and their relevance for promoting sustainable actions. Integration of theoretical frameworks and empirical data to identify motivational, normative, and contextual factors influencing sustainable behavior. Principles of intervention design, operationalization of goals and variables, and evaluation methods. Methodological limitations and assessment of effectiveness in environmental behavior interventions.

Environmental psychology as an institutionally and conceptually unified sub-sector of psychology exploring the interaction between human and physical, social and natural environments. The formation of environmental psychology in an interdisciplinary context at the intersection of psychology, sociology, architecture, urban planning and environmental sciences. Environmental protection as a normative, political and socially structured area of practice where human behaviour is a central influence factor. Basic concepts and guiding principles of environmental psychology: environment as a space of experience, human environment system, sustainable development. The role of environmental psychology in understanding the challenges of modern society in terms of climate change, resource depletion and biodiversity loss.

Human perception of the environment as an active, subjective, and culturally embodied process. Psychological mechanisms of perceiving physical environments, natural landscapes, and urban spaces. The role of sensory, cognitive, and emotional processes in shaping environmental experience. Symbolic meanings of environments, place identity, and sense of belonging. Differences in perceiving natural versus built environments and their impact on well-being, perceived safety, and behavior. Basic principles of environmental aesthetics and landscape perception

Environmental perception and individual differences in environmental experience. Place attachment, place identity and the meaning of place in human life. Environmental stress and its sources. Psychological impacts of urban environments. Restorativeness of natural and built environments and restoration of psychological resources. The role of green infrastructure in human well-being and human–environment interaction. Environmental protection legislation and policy frameworks relevant to the topic in the European Union and Latvia. Central question: Why do different environments affect us differently — and why does the same environment affect different people differently?

Effects of the physical environment on psychological well-being, health, and behaviour. Environmental stress and its sources. Restorative qualities of natural and built environments and psychological resource recovery. The role of natural environments and green infrastructure in human well-being. Individual differences in environmental effects and experiences. Relevant environmental protection legislation and policy frameworks in the European Union and Latvia.

The role of the social environment in human relationships with the environment. Social norms, social identity and group influence on environmental attitudes and behaviour. Collective action dilemmas and public participation in environmental protection. Social and cultural factors in the perception and interpretation of environmental problems. Environmental protection legislation and policy frameworks relevant to the topic in the European Union and Latvia. Central question: Why does my environmental behaviour also depend on what other people do?

Psychology-based approaches to promoting pro-environmental behaviour. Environmental risk perception and communication. Information provision and message framing. The use of social norms in behaviour change. Nudging and choice architecture. Modification of the physical environment and participation as tools for behaviour change. Development and evaluation of sustainable behaviour interventions. Environmental protection legislation and policy frameworks relevant to the topic in the European Union and Latvia. Central question: If we know why people behave in a certain way, how can we change that behaviour?

The concept of the psychological connection between humans and nature (nature connectedness) and its role in psychological functioning and well-being. Key theoretical approaches explaining the restorative effects of natural environments: the Biophilia Hypothesis, Attention Restoration Theory (ART), and Stress Reduction Theory (SRT). The effects of natural environments on stress, emotions, attention, cognitive fatigue, and psychological well-being. The distinction between exposure to nature and intentional nature-based psychological interventions.

The concept, definitions, and theoretical foundations of nature-based interventions. Classification and main types of nature-based interventions. Structured and unstructured, individual and group-based, active and passive forms of engagement with nature. Forest therapy and forest bathing, nature-based mindfulness practices, walking interventions, gardening/horticultural interventions, ecotherapy, and other nature-based approaches. The interrelationship between the intervention aim, theoretical rationale, mechanisms of action, and expected psychological outcomes.

Principles for the development of nature-based psychological interventions. Identification of the target group and its psychological needs. Formulation of the theoretical rationale and the proposed mechanisms of change. Selection of intervention components, setting, duration, frequency, and intensity. Safety, accessibility, and ethical considerations. Evaluation of intervention outcomes and effectiveness, including psychological, cognitive, behavioural, and nature-connectedness-related outcomes; pre–post assessment, comparison groups, and qualitative evaluation of participants’ experiences. Critical appraisal of scientific evidence.

Principles for the development of nature-based psychological interventions. Identification of the target group and its psychological needs. Formulation of the theoretical rationale and the proposed mechanisms of change. Selection of intervention components, setting, duration, frequency, and intensity. Safety, accessibility, and ethical considerations. Evaluation of intervention outcomes and effectiveness, including psychological, cognitive, behavioural, and nature-connectedness-related outcomes; pre–post assessment, comparison groups, and qualitative evaluation of participants’ experiences. Critical appraisal of scientific evidence.

Trends and challenges in the development of environmental psychology. The role of digital technologies and data in influencing environmental behavior. Integration of policy-making and psychological knowledge in the context of sustainable development. Future scenarios of human–environment relationships and the role of environmental psychology in societal change.

Measurement of environmental attitudes and behavior in environmental psychology and its relevance for empirical research. Quantitative instruments, including surveys, self-report scales, and behavioral observations. Qualitative methods, such as interviews and focus groups, and their application in the study of attitudes and behavior. Principles of designing experiments and observational studies, operationalization of variables, and data analysis possibilities. Methodological limitations and interpretation opportunities in environmental psychology research.

Design of behavior change interventions in the context of environmental psychology and their relevance for promoting sustainable actions. Integration of theoretical frameworks and empirical data to identify motivational, normative, and contextual factors influencing sustainable behavior. Principles of intervention design, operationalization of goals and variables, and evaluation methods. Methodological limitations and assessment of effectiveness in environmental behavior interventions.