Do humans have a natural desire to be among nature? This theory proposes that yes we do! Here is a short video to explain what exactly the biophilia hypothesis is about, enjoy!
Video created by blog author, Isabelle Lim using Explee
History
The Biophilia hypothesis is a theory developed by Edward O. Wilson in 1984 to explain mankind’s innate desire to interact with nature and different aspects of it. It suggests man has a natural affection and love for plants, wildlife and all living things that belong to the natural world. This theory has its roots in evolutionary psychology and proposes that environmental pressures have shaped humans to evolve with biological predispositions that draws them to be around natural stimuli.
photo of Edward O. Wilson (source)
This liking for nature can be traced back to ancient times where plants were common household objects in civilisations such as Egypt and Pompeii. Even today, urban planners integrate greenery and trees into our cityscape, many home owners enjoy decorating their lawns with flora and fauna. These behaviours suggest that we can’t bear to separate ourselves from nature even in the midst of developing ourselves. There is a tendency for us to add elements of nature to our surroundings if we can afford to do so! Perhaps such actions can be attributed to the biophilic nature of our human mind.
Scientific Evidence
The biophilia hypothesis showcases how positive exposure to nature can bring about an abundance of desirable benefits for mankind, such as improved self esteem, better cardiovascular health and reduction of stress levels as mention in the previous section. Scientific evidences support this theory.
This research study conducted by the University of Michigan has shown that interacting with nature makes humans healthier, even just 20 minutes of contact with nature can significantly reduce cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone that negatively affects our body, it triggers inflammatory responses and increases the risk of heart diseases via blood vessel constriction. Spending time in nature also enhances oxytocin levels. Oxytocin provides emotional benefits such as increasing pleasure and decrease anxiety. It buffers the negative effects of stress and enables one to cope with stressors. Dopamine centres of the brain also light up during MRI scans when individuals observe nature scenes. This suggests that positive experiences in nature triggers release of the happy hormone, dopamine which induces feelings of happiness and boosts mood.
Image created by blog author, Isabelle Lim using Canva
The opposite also holds true. A lack of interaction between man and nature can negatively impact physical health, mental wellbeing and social wellbeing. Withdrawing from contact with nature presents many negative consequences which can be observed through the nature deficit disorder. Nature deficit disorder is the belief that a lack of time spent in nature, especially for children, results in a wide spectrum of behavioural problems. Some of the consequences include, developing short attention spans, having more mood disorders and being addicted to electronic devices.
Conclusion
As nature has such a profound impact on our wellbeing, biophilia hypothesis asserts that it is a vital component for healthy development. This theory has helped support the growth of green architecture and biophilic design that in return improves the wellbeing of our society. A society without nature will function poorly, but a city within a garden will flourish!