Abstract

The effect of the environment on an individual’s well-being has been documented and studied throughout the years (e.g., Guite, Clark, & Ackrill, 2006). However, recent events such as dramatic climate change and the environmental release of toxins into the air and water have propelled environmental psychology to the forefront when addressing the health outcomes of communities and nations. While the field initially examined the physical characteristics of the environment people lived in (Proshansky, 1976), it has evolved throughout the years to include much more. Currently, the field of environmental psychology investigates not only how the natural world affects the individual’s psyche but also how manmade disasters and social environments influence our development and well-being.