Human Well-Being Promoted By Trees, Especially Those With =
Preferred=20
Forms
![3D"Scenes](3D"http://www.wsu.edu/~lohr/hih/form/treeform.jpg" "3D\"\"") Introduction
People respond =
psychologically=20
and physiologically to urban and natural landscapes. Natural =
scenes elicit=20
greater calming responses than urban scenes. Viewing trees in =
urban=20
landscapes has been associated with improved health. Different =
components=20
of nature might promote different human responses. People respond=20
differently to trees than to other elements in nature. People also =
prefer=20
particular tree forms, such as the low, spreading form of savanna =
trees.=20
The objectives of this research were to compare people's responses =
to=20
urban scenes containing trees of different forms or inanimate =
objects.=20
Methods
Subjects' psychological and physiological =
states were=20
monitored while viewing individual computer-enhanced slides of =
urban=20
scenes with inanimate objects or conical, globose, or spreading =
tree=20
forms. Emotional states were measured with a self-report survey. =
Blood=20
pressure and skin temperature were measured. Aesthetic preference =
for each=20
scene being viewed also was evaluated.
Results
People reported more positive emotions, such =
as=20
friendliness, and fewer negative emotions, such as sadness, when =
looking=20
at urban scenes with trees than when looking at the same scenes =
containing=20
inanimate objects. In some cases, the positive emotions reported =
were=20
magnified when viewing the spreading tree. Scenes with inanimate =
objects=20
were rated the least attractive, while those with the spreading =
trees were=20
rated the most attractive. There were no significant differences =
in blood=20
pressure or skin temperature. However, trends were similar to =
those for=20
emotional responses. People tended to be more relaxed when looking =
at=20
scenes with trees than those with inanimate objects, and the =
response was=20
accentuated with the spreading tree form.
![3D"Graph](3D"http://www.wsu.edu/~lohr/hih/form/FormPos.JPG" "3D\"\"") ![3D"Graph](3D"http://www.wsu.edu/~lohr/hih/form/FormNeg.JPG" "3D\"\"") Conclusions
People responded more positively to trees =
with=20
conical, globose, or spreading forms in urban settings than to the =
same=20
settings with inanimate objects. These results support the =
importance of=20
using trees of any form to enhance urban environments. Positive =
responses=20
were intensified for trees with spreading forms. Spreading trees =
may be=20
important in areas, such as healthcare facilities, where people =
are=20
confined for extended periods.
This research was partially supported by the Idaho Department =
of Lands.=20
Full study reported =
in:
Lohr,=20
V.I. and C.H. Pearson-Mims. 2006. Responses to =
scenes with=20
spreading, rounded, and conical tree forms. =
Environment &=20
Behavior 38(5):667-688.
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