This article reports seven new, original findings, based on 4 experiments, 56 environmental scenes, and 71 participants, on how the factors of area over which one could walk (boundary height, boundary porosity, and boundary proximity) influence perceived spaciousness or enclosure. Perceived spaciousness was most strongly related by the area over…

Three studies examine the effects of exposure to nature on positive affect and ability to reflect on a life problem. Participants spent 15 min walking in a natural setting (Studies 1, 2, & 3), an urban setting (Study 1), or watching videos of natural and urban settings (Studies 2 & 3). In all three studies, exposure to nature increased…

The experience of the urban environment was studied in terms of how it is categorized, what people's preferences are, and the extent to which complexity and familiarity can account for these preferences. College students rated urban scenes under three methods of scene presentation. Results are reported. (RH)

Guided walks near a light rail stop in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, were examined using a 2 (gender) x 3 (route walkability: low-mixed-, or high-walkability features) design. Trained raters confirmed that more walkable segments had more traffic, environmental, and social safety; pleasing aesthetics; natural features; pedestrian amenities; and…

Describes Anderson's information integration theory and its associated method of "policy capturing" as a regression approach to information processing in judgment. Experiments are described that yield practical and theoretical information regarding applications of models in predicting bus ridership. (CS)

The nature of environmental perception and the relationship between perceived environmental change and environmental action are analyzed through four dimensions of environmental experience: the environment as external object, as representation of self, as embodiment of value, and as arena for action. (Author/MA)

This paper is based upon a survey of open space uses for leisure-time activities in inner city Baltimore. Results of the study indicated that switching emphasis from public park areas to improved semiprivate areas would result in more effective use of open spaces and less expensive maintenance costs. (MA)

Two studies are reviewed which concern the analysis and use of attitudinal data to further enhance the understanding of urban travel. Both studies employed multidimensional scaling techniques. (Author/MA)

Discusses the interrelationship between environment and behavior in institutional settings and derives therefrom some understanding of the nature of decision that determines how people live. (Author)

Explored are possible areas for application of psychometric techniques in the transportation planning process; that is, the mechanism for estimating and forecasting travel in urban areas. Described is the disaggregate, behavioral, probabilistic approach to travel demand estimation; potentials for the use of psychometric techniques are then…

Subjective indicators of well-being are studied in representative samples of two urban public housing projects. Factor analysis of forty well-being variables yields five orthogonal dimensions: liveability of the project, identification with the project, fear of crime, social ties and future aspirations. Multiple regression analyses using the five…

Introduces this special issue devoted to the psychology of urban life by explaining the two approaches of study, the ecological and the sociostructural, and by briefly describing each paper presented. (MA)

Suggests that for each of the role-related identities of an individual, there are physical dimensions and characteristics that help to define and are subsumed by that identity. Argues that it is important to conceptualize place-identity as a specific component of each individual's self-identity. (Author/MA)

Presents a mathematical technique for building perceptual models of urban areas. Uses techniques to model perceptual neighborhoods within a city and to explore how residential burglary rates vary between the interiors and borders of the neighborhood. (Author/MA)