PSY2005 Environmental psychology

    • Course code
      PSY2005
    • Number of credits
      10
    • Teaching semester
      2025 Autumn
    • Language of instruction
      English
    • Campus
      Lillehammer
    • Required prerequisite knowledge

      None

Course content

Environmental psychology concerns the complexity between humans and their surroundings, both built and natural environments. Humans influence and get influenced by their physical environment. The course addresses psychological, social, aesthetic, and regular relations between humans and their physical environment, and is closely linked to topics such as stress, restitution, and well-being. Common theory and empiricism from environmental psychology will be critically analysed. The course will also provide an introduction in the environmental psychological understanding regarding the human influence on, and the reaction to, climate change. This includes subjects such as attitudes, pro-environmental behaviour, nudging and solastalgia. Environmental psychology has an interdisciplinary approach and is strongly influenced by social- and cognitive psychology, and linked to the academic fields of architecture, landscape architecture and landscape planning. Applied environmental psychology is process orientated, and the course provides an introduction regarding practical use related to topics such as health, well-being, and pro-environmental behaviour.

Learning Outcome

The students will acquire basic knowledge regarding human interaction with, and reactions to, their physical surroundings. More specific, students will learn about how the physical environment (built and natural) can provide both positive and negative effects on human health and well-being. Contrary, how human attitude and behaviour effects climate, environment, and nature. The student will also obtain knowledge on how to apply environmental psychological knowledge to increase pro-environmental actions in general.

Knowledge

Upon completion of the course, the student shall

  • have knowledge of history of environmental psychology
  • have knowledge of common theories within environmental psychology
  • have basic knowledge regarding environmental perceptions, restitution, pro-environmental behaviour, social dilemmas, nudging and processes of change
  • have insights regarding various issues in environmental psychology
  • understand the complexity of human and environmental interaction
  • have insights regarding ethical dilemmas within pro-environmental behaviour, such as nudging
Skills

Upon completion of the course, the student shall be able to

  • use environmental psychological knowledge to explain effects of the interaction between humans and their surroundings
  • present and discuss environmental psychological dilemmas, within academical terms
  • apply basic mapping methods for gathering data within environmental psychology
  • evaluate common research methods and results
  • provide academic based input in designing and promoting healthy surroundings
  • provide knowledge and competence to increase pro-environmental behaviour
Teaching and working methods

Lectures, seminars, practical exercises, and problem-based learning.

Required coursework

Participation in mandatory seminars in addition to submission of written work or oral presentation, graded as pass/fail. Further information on content and scope is provided by the course convenor at the start of the course.

Assessments
Form of assessmentGrading scaleGroupingDuration of assessmentSupport materialsProportionComment
Written examination with invigilation
ECTS - A-F
Individual
4 Hour(s)
  • No support materials
100
Form of assessment

Written examination with invigilation. 

Professional overlap
NameCreditsDateComment
PSY2303 Helse- og miljøpsykologi
5
PSY1003 Helse- og miljøpsykologi
5
Course name in Norwegian Nynorsk: 
Environmental psychology
Course name in Norwegian Bokmål: 
Environmental psychology
Faculty
Inland School of Business and Social Sciences
Department
Department of Psychology
Area of study
Psykologi
Programme of study
Bachelor of psychology
Course level
Intermediate course, level II (200-LN)