APSB11754U Elective course - Nature and Psychology

What do we know about how nature influences our psyche? This class is designed to work as an introduction to this area of research.

To give a broad and representative overview we will be looking at empirical research and theories from natural science, humanities, and social science. We will be asking the question, what is nature?

Therefore, the exam will be an opportunity to explore a specific area within the broad field of nature and psychology.

Theme 1)
Natural science: we will be looking at 1) evolutionary psychology and biophilia 2) the Connectedness to Nature Scale 3) Nature and Cognition.

Theme 2)
Humanities: we will be looking at 1) Arne Næss’ deep ecology 2) Getnot Böhme Weather phenomenology 3) prof. Annette Bischoff will be a guest lecturer. Her expertise is qualitative studies on experiences in nature.

Theme 3)
Social science: we will look at 1) Preben Bertelsen’s life skills (to create a bridge between nature and psychological practice 2) Margarete Archer’s agency theory 3) Hartmut Rosa’s concept of resonance in nature and how nature fits in critical theory.

Theme 4)
We will look at the concept of biophobia, to get a critical take on what we have learned.

Theme 5)
We will also be going on excursions and in this regard we will talk about clinical effects of nature interventions.