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WALKING FOR MENTAL VITALITYSOME PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF
WALKING IN NATURAL SETTINGS
Raymond De YoungUniversity of Michigan
1. Nature as medicine
2. Attention Restoration Theory and properties of restorative experiences
3. A prescription for mental vitality
PRESENTATION WILL COVER
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
RESTORATION
1. Nature as medicine
2. Attention Restoration Theory and properties of restorative experiences
3. A prescription for mental vitalityis simply to walk, regularly, surrounded by nearby nature
ONE MAIN POINT
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
RESTORATION
1. Nature as medicine
Walking is man's best medicine– Hippocrates
Greek physician (460 - 377 BCE)
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
RESTORATION
Kawase Hasui (1941) Tamiya Village, Saitamawww.hanga.com/viewimage.cfm?ID=1439
RESTORATION
1. Nature as medicine
2. Attention Restoration Theory
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
Two forms of attention
• Involuntary fascination
• Directed attention
RESTORATION
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
• Two forms of attention
• Involuntary fascination• Effortless and spontaneous • Sources include:
• nature • survival-related phenomena • processes such as making predictions
• Directed attention PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
• Two forms of attention
• Involuntary fascination• Effortless and spontaneous • Sources include:
• nature • survival-related phenomena • processes such as making predictions
• Directed attention• Effortful• Capacity to actively inhibit distractions• Supports focusing on the non-fascinating
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
• Two forms of attention
• Involuntary fascination• Effortless and spontaneous • Sources include:
• nature • survival-related phenomena • processes such as making predictions
• Directed attention• Effortful and fatigues• Capacity to actively inhibit distractions• Supports focusing on the non-fascinating
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
Directed attention is essential for
• Basic mental activity• problem solving• maintaining train of thought
• Higher functions• maintaining purpose• planning goals, initiating tasks• self-monitoring and self-regulating• behavioral restraint
• Social behavior• listening, not interrupting • caring about and helping others
RESTORATION
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
Some daily demands on directed attention
• Informational• distractions, interruptions, noise• meetings and conferences
• Affective• worries• loss and grief
• Behavioral• constraints• unreasonable expectations
• Physical• bad weather• poor vision/hearing
RESTORATION
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
NATURE
Some symptoms of directed attention fatigue
• Irritability• Impulsivity• Impatience
• Cumulative loss of effectivenessProblems with:
• thinking• planning• deciding• monitoring• restraining• starting and finishing tasks
RESTORATION
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
1. Nature as medicine
2. Attention Restoration Theory and Properties of restorative experiences
3. Prescription for mental vitalityPRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
RESTORATION
ATTENTION
Some properties of attention-restoring experiences
• Being away• stop using tired brain structures • put aside recent work
• Fascination• be surrounded by involuntarily
fascinating yet non-boisterous nature• Extent
• setting has scope enough to sustain interaction for some time without boredom
• feeling of being in another world• Compatibility
• fit between intentions and affordances• can function without major mental effort
RESTORATION
NATURE
ATTENTION
Dosage needed for recovery depends on
• Kind and quality of environment• Intentional engagement with environment• Frequency and duration
RESTORATION
PRESCRIPTION
NATURE
1. Nature as medicine
2. Attention Restoration Theory and properties of restorative experiences
3. A prescription for mental vitality PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
RESTORATION
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
RESTORATION
• Where
• When
• How
• What to do with the mind
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
RESTORATION
• Where to walk• non-spectacular nature will suffice• tree-lined street, park, open space• soft fascination helps reflection
• When
• How
• What to do with the mind
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
RESTORATION
• Where
• When to walk• poor judge of our state of mental fatigue• our belief we don’t need a break is erroneous• must make, and stick to, a schedule
• How
• What to do with the mind
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
RESTORATION
• Where
• When
• How to walk• socializing depletes directed attention • increase solo walking, although
• conversation might aid reflection• partner might help engagement with setting
• What to do with the mind
PRESCRIPTION
ATTENTION
NATURE
RESTORATION
• Where
• When
• How
• What to do with the mind• plan ahead, create an awareness plan• enhance mind-environment interactions• build on fascination we have with prediction, etc.
A PRESCRIPTION FOR MENTAL VITALITY
• Walk in softly fascinating natural settings
• Repeat on a schedule
• Often go alone
• If walk with another, then be tranquil and focus your conversation on the setting
• Be playful with the environment
Raymond De YoungAssociate Professor of Environmental Psychology and Planning
School of Natural Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
[email protected]/~rdeyoung
If you value mental effectiveness then attention restoration is not optional
Shiro Kasamatsu (1919) Cirrocumuli (Mackerel Sky)www.hanga.com/viewimage.cfm?ID=2576
