Population density and noise can have an effect on an individual’s
mental, physical and social well-being.
The field of environmental psychology seeks to analyze the effects that
population density and noise have on individuals as well as many other
environmental issues and concerns. In
this paper I will provide an analyst on the effects of population density and
noise by addressing the concepts of territoriality, privacy, and personal
space. I will examine how the concepts
of territoriality, privacy, and personal space have become more increasingly
important as population become denser as well as clarify the effect of nature
has on individuals living in urban environments. As a part of my analyst I will also describe
the concept of noise and examine the effect that it has on individuals and I
will examine at least two strategies that can be used to reduce noise in the workplace
or in the living environment.
The Effects of Population
Density and Noise
Population density is defined as “an arithmetic average expressing
the number of people, animals, or plants per unity of area for a given spatial
unit” (Millward, 2010). Population
density is measured by counting how people are present in a given space and
dividing that number by the size of the area that is being occupied. Population
density is an important factor for humans because of the “impact it has on the
way people live and interact and on the efficiency and environmental impact on
their settlements” (Millward, 2010). When population density begin to increase
in an area it is more than likely that the noise level will also increase as
well as the privacy and personal space of an individual may be
compromised. In order to completely
understand the effects of population density on an individual one must first
examine the concepts of noise, privacy, territoriality, and personal space as
it relates to population.
Noise
An environmental stressor that many people encounter regularly is
noise. Noise is considered to be a form
of communication, however it is defined as “unwanted sound that is typically
measured as sound intensity by decibels” (Steg, 2013 p. 34). When examining the effects of noise on
individuals it is very important to first understand that “noise had the
ability to change or distort the meaning of a message that is being
communicated in human and electronic communication” ("Noise," 2009). If someone is trying to convey a message to
someone else yelling in a high pitch voice over loud noises in the background
it may impossible for the individual to effectively communicate that message to
the individual because of the noise which can be very stressful especially if
the information is very important. Noise
can affect an individual’s ability to concentrate and I believe that is why
teachers always require silence in the classroom while they are giving a lesson
because noise can distract the students from learning.
Strategies to Reduce Noise
Noise occurs often in different types of environmental settings,
such as where an individual resides or work.
After a long day of work it could be very stressful to come home to
place that is very noisy and there a several steps that can be taken to help reduce
the noise but first it would be beneficial to identify the source. If it found that your neighbors are
contributing the excessive noise, it may help to “make them aware of how their
activities are affecting others” ("How to reduce unwanted noise," 2006). Discuss way to decrease unpleasant noise,
“such as laying down carpets, moving stereo equipment away from shared walls
and agreeing on reasonable hours for noisy activities” ("How to reduce
unwanted noise," 2006). These
methods are good for residential settings such as apartment complexes where
residents live in very close proximity.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known as OSHA
states that “engineering controls are the preferred method of reducing noise
levels in the workplace” (Hunt, 2014). The use of engineering controls as a
method to reduce noise in the workplace would require organizations to modify equipment. The modification of equipment “for reducing
noise produced include using sound absorption techniques, such as muffling
equipment or devices to absorb vibrations” (Hunt, 2014). An administrative control is another method
that is considered to be “very effective in reducing excessive noise levels in
the workplace” (Hunt, 2014).
Administrative controls can vary from room treatments “such as placing
carpets and other noise barriers between the worker and the equipment can help
to effectively reduce noise levels” (Hunt, 2014). Another administrative control could be just
as simple as moving equipment that produces excessive noise to another area of
the workplace that employees do not frequently occupy. Business owners should also consider
replacing older noisy equipment with newer models that are more efficient and
make less noise.
Understanding
Territoriality, Privacy, and Personal Space
Recently we were bombarded with snow and ice storms creating chaos
on the roads and I noticed on several occasions while driving through the
neighborhood that many people who shoveled out parking spaces put lawn chairs,
trash cans or cones in the parking spot when they moved their car although that
is completely illegal here in the city many residents still saved their parking
spaces which could considered to be territoriality. Territoriality is defined as “a pattern of
attitudes and behavior held by a person or group that is based on perceived,
attempted, or actual control of a physical space, object, or idea which may
involve habitual occupation, defense, personalization, and marking the
territory” (Gifford, 2007). Inclement weather
created anxiety and stress prompting residents to save parking spaces as a way
of “marking their territory” and if someone else were to attempt to occupy that
parking space conflict was definitely going to escalate.
Unlike Territoriality where an individual marks a space as their
territory, personal space “is the emotionally tinged zone around the human body
that people feel is their space” (Sommer, 2009). Personal space is measured by the parameters
surrounding a person that an individual considers their comfort zone. Personal space differs from territoriality
when speaking in terms of population because territoriality could be the simple
act of someone saving a chair with their jacket when they go use the restroom
and personal space would be the area surrounding that individual and close
someone could be before they feel uncomfortable. When population density increase it is more
than likely that individual personal space will be compromised.
Defining privacy is complex; however it can be described as
“freedom from authorized intrusion” (Privacy, 2014). Some examples of an individual’s privacy
being violated are someone going through your desk drawer at work without your
knowledge. Another privacy violation
that happens very often is someone entering the restroom without knocking on
the door, as this is something that happens at home as well as the workplace.
When an individual’s privacy is violated it may also include their personal
space sometimes, like when someone barges into the restroom already
occupied.
Nature effect on
individuals living in an urban environment
An urban environment can be described as an area that has a higher
population density than the surrounding areas, such as cities and towns. Urban areas are sometimes face paced and are
made up of lots of buildings and have a minimal nature effect. Due to the development of urban and
metropolitan areas population density increases as well as noise which has a
major impact on individuals. The nature
effect can have a positive impact on individuals in urban environments that are
exposed to dense population that include overcrowding and invasion of personal
space and privacy. Green space is the
term used for the nature effect in urban environments and is mostly made up of
trees and grass. Grass is considered to
be one of the most resilient plants on earth because “it helps prevent soil
erosion, supplies the softest play space, and cools the ambient temperature
around the perfect place for picnics or star gazing” ("The Scotts company:
sustainable benefits of green spaces," 2012). The presence of green space
in an urban environment has a strong psychological effect on the human
population because being exposed to the nature effect can help alleviate the
feeling of being mentally exhausted and provide a feeling of relaxation and
restoration. The effects of nature can
also “encourage social interaction and de-stressing through exercise and
conversation” (Perry, 2010).
In conclusion, the impact of the increase of population density and
noise is a contributing factor to individuals becoming territoriality due to a
decrease in privacy and invasion in personal space. Noise is considered to be an unwanted sound
that interferes with what individuals can measure as normal sound and communication. Aside from discussing with your neighbors
ways to decrease noise in your living environment there are engineering and
administrative controls that can help in the workplace. Territoriality is when an individual marks a
space to prevent others from occupying that space; on the other hand personal
space is the parameter that an individual mentally sets as their comfort zone
in relation to other human beings. Privacy is the guidelines set by individuals
expressing their right to be left alone.
When population density increases, territoriality, personal space and
privacy become compromised and that is why the nature effect is much needed
because the increase in population density contributes to crowding that is a
major cause to many psychological problems that individuals face. The effects of nature can provide a calm to
individuals feeling overwhelmed from the increase in population density.
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