Date of Award

Summer 8-2007

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Dr. Randolph Arnau

Committee Chair Department

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Dr. Bradley Green

Committee Member 2 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Dr. Tammy Greer

Committee Member 3 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 4

Dr. David Marcus

Committee Member 4 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 5

Dr. Virgil Ziegler-Hill

Committee Member 5 Department

Psychology

Abstract

Nature settings are said to elicit the positive emotion of contentment, characterized by feelings of relaxation, easing of tension, tranquility, self-reflection, and savoring of current life. Fredrickson's (1998, 2000, 2002) Broaden-and-Build Model of positive emotions may shed light into the mechanisms through which nature-related stimuli yield positive effects on its viewers. However, the manner and intensity in which emotions are experienced may be influenced by an individual's personality traits (Gray, 1987; Strelau, 1987; Watson & Clark, 1997).

The current study examined whether viewing nature settings footage yields self-reports of positive affectivity, decreased self-reports of negative affectivity, physiological signs of sympathetic system recuperation, and improved performance on cognitive tasks. Furthermore, the role of personality traits as moderators for nature-related stimuli's beneficial effects was also assessed. Final, the specific positive emotion of serenity was tested to investigate whether it mediates the relationship between nature-related stimuli and its beneficial effects as posited by Fredrickson (1998). Results provide supported for some of nature-related beneficial effects and also indicate that personality may influence this relationship.

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