Human Factors

Affecting Behavior

Theory of Architecture 1
Human Factors Affecting
Behavior
Physiological Influences
Personality Traits
Information Management
Gestalt Outlook/Psychology

Theory of Architecture 1
Physiological Influences
Organisms, humans included, in
order to survive have developed
means of attuning itself to
changes and patterns in the
environment.
We have developed
mechanisms in response to
dangers and predators. We also
have predictable responses
when in safe places or when
provided refuge from dangers.
Our physiological make-up, our
body and likewise our brain, are
products of millions of years of
evolution in a survival-of-the-fittest
environment
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Physiological Certain parts of the brain are devoted
to memory recall, such as the frontal
Influences lobe & cerebral cortex & both
hemispheres of hippocampus. Others
are devoted to perception of cues from
the environment.
Brain Physiology and
Behavior

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Physiological Long term memory include procedural
or implicit memory, used in learning
motor skills.
Influences Declarative memory or explicit memory
is when we recall/retrieve information
earlier stored in our brain.

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Role of Even though it is our endocrine system
that produces hormones, our nervous
Neurochemicals system rely on our hormones and other
chemicals in order to respond to
& Hormones environmental conditions in terms of
behavior, cognition, perception and
moods.

Acetylcholine (neuro-transmitter): excites the brain and tense muscles

during a fight-or-flight response. Degeneration of
Cortisol (stress hormone): significant secretion during physical or mental
stress
Dopamine (neurotransmitter): critical to brain control of physical
movement & necessary for synthesis of adrenaline/epinephrine. Info-
transmitter. Parkinson prone when deficient, schizophrenic when overly
produced in the brain

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 Role of
Neurochemicals
& Hormones
Epinephrine/adrenalin (hormone): produces short-term reactions that
increase heart-rate, elevates blood-sugar levels, & breaks lipids/fats in cells
Glutamate (neurotransmitter): important in learning & memory storage.
Excessive amount may cause neuronal damage like ALS and Alzheimer's
disease
Melatonin (hormone): controls sleep patterns, modulation of moods &
immunological functions. Production is regulated by amount of light in the
environment.

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 Role of
Neurochemicals
& Hormones
Norepinephrine (stress hormone): increases level of excitatory activity within
parts of the brain where attention, arousal and impulsivity are controlled. In
fight-or-flight, it activates the sympathetic nervous system and increases heart-
rate.
Oxytocin (hormone): trust hormone which plays a role in social bonding,
sexual reproduction in both sexes, and during and after childbirth
Serotonin (neurotransmitter): important in mood control, regulation of sleep,
pain perception, blood pressure, body temperature, appetite, etc.
Imbalances are associated with depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety.

Theory of Architecture 1
Personality Traits
Understanding clients’ personalities will allow
designers to develop better regimen of design
options which when synthesized into space
design results to a more responsive
environment for its users.
There are several methods to study personality
traits, the most common include:
• Big Five Inventory (by Oliver John): analysis
of traits that tend to co-occur in general
population.
• Myers-Briggs type of Indicator (by Katherin
Briggs & Isabel Briggs-Myers): based on the
personality typecasting developed by Carl
Jung.

Theory of Architecture 1
Personality Traits
This analysis method makes use of 5
Big Five broad dimensions or means of
Inventory characterization of personalities. These
are:
1. Extraversion/surgency: this
characterization includes traits like
talkativeness, energy and
assertiveness
2. Agreeableness: includes traits like
sympathy, kindness and affection
3. Conscientiousness: includes being
organized, thorough and able to
make & execute plans

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Personality Traits
4. Neuroticisms (reverse of
emotional stability): includes traits
Big Five like tension, moodiness and
Inventory anxiety
5. Openness (to new experiences or
other culture): includes having
wide interests and being
imaginative & insightful.

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Personality Traits
Briggs-Myers
Type Indicator
Four (4) primary personality
dichotomies become the
basis for personality trait
analysis, resulting to 16
possible personality profiles
1. Introvert-Extrovert
2. Sensory-Intuitive
3. Thinker-Feeler
4. Judger-Perceiver

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Briggs-Myers Type Indicator

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Personality Traits
Other Influential Components

Internal-
External Locus Locus of control is a way of perceiving
opportunities in relation to one’s ability.
of Control ILOC: individuals with strong ILOC
believe that their own actions, decisions
and pursuits control their lives
ELOC: : individuals with strong ELOC
tend to believe that they have little
control of their lives

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Personality Traits
Other Influential Components

Screener - The personality of a person also

establishes how he/she gets influenced
Non-screener by environmental stimuli.
Screener: individuals with strong ability to
screen out unwanted environmental
stimuli
Non-Screener: : individuals with poor
ability to screen out unwanted
environmental stimuli

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Information Management
Role of perception, Cognition & Memory on Behavior

Perception Perception is the initial gathering of

information through the 5 senses and
subsequent organization of that initial
input. This is the first phase of the though
process

Characteristics:
Highly subjective
Too many variables factors
Subject to selective attention

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Information Management
Role of perception, Cognition & Memory on Behavior

Perception

Ecological Perception
Theory: states that
environmental
information is organized
into recognizable
patterns and conveyed
by perceptual patterns
that do not require
higher brain processing.

Theory of Architecture 1
Information Management
Role of perception, Cognition & Memory on Behavior

Cognition This is the resulting understanding

achieved through perception,
knowledge and reasoning.
Spatial Cognition: is the thinking process
used to navigate the physical
environment

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Information Management
Organization of space into visual/spatial elements into groups

This is a cognition process that enables

Memory us to store information. The 3 distinct
phases that allow us memory storage
are:
1. Perception and recording of
stimulus
2. Temporary maintenance of a
perception
3. Encoding of information into a long-
term storage

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Gestalt Psychology
Organization of space into visual/spatial elements into groups

This is a theory in psychology that

explain perceptions in terms of its
Gestalt organized whole rather than by
analyzing their constituents
Gestalt Laws of Perception
• Similarity
• Proximity
• Continuity
• Closure
• Equilibrium
• Figure and Ground

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 Gestalt Psychology
Organization of space into visual/spatial elements into groups

Similarity

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Gestalt Psychology
Organization of space into visual/spatial elements into groups

Proximity

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 Gestalt Psychology
Organization of space into visual/spatial elements into groups

Continuity

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 Gestalt Psychology
Organization of space into visual/spatial elements into groups

Closure

Cite Internationale, Lyons,

France, Renzo Piano

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Gestalt Psychology
Organization of space into visual/spatial elements into groups

Figure-Ground

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Human Perception &
Environmental Design

Evolution & Gender

Aesthetics and Color
Way-Finding

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Evolution & Gender
Primal instincts as among the underlying basis for
perception & cognition

Evolution of Prehistoric gender roles generally classifies

men as hunters and women as gatherers
Gender Roles and nurturers of offspring.
Other evolutionary theories of
environmental behavior patterns include:
• Men claim larger territories than
women
• Men prefer greater interpersonal &
personal distances (when ceilings are
low)
• Men prefer to be with happy people,
and like women, are discouraged to
be with people who display fear
Theory of Architecture 1
Evolution & Gender
Primal instincts as among the underlying basis for
perception & cognition

Evolution of Prehistoric gender roles generally classifies

men as hunters and women as gatherers
Gender Roles and nurturers of offspring.
Other evolutionary theories of
environmental behavior patterns include:
• Women feel more tolerant of high
spatial density conditions (more
people sharing same area)
• Women are more helpful to others in
need
• Women are less likely to be bothered
by other people’s disposition, except
people who display fear
Theory of Architecture 1
Evolution & Gender
Primal instincts as among the underlying basis for
perception & cognition

Gender Understanding gender-anchored

perception influences can enable
Influences designers to better accommodate
each gender’s needs in a particular
on project.

Perception The Ethic of Care Theory claims that it

is in women’s nature to focus on
sustaining relationships and taking
care of other’s needs.

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Evolution & Gender
Primal instincts as among the underlying basis for
perception & cognition

Gender Influences on Perception

Feminine & masculine spaces

Theory of Architecture 1
Evolution & Gender
Primal instincts as among the underlying basis for
perception & cognition

Prospect-
Refuge Theory
This theory states that
humans prefer
environments with both
open & closed areas
because these afford
both visual range (ie. for
prospect in getting food)
and shelter (protection
from predator)
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Evolution & Gender
Primal instincts as among the underlying basis for
perception & cognition

Prospect-
Refuge Theory

Refuge

Prospect Refuge

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Considerations that lead to positive responses
on the space/environment

Aesthetic
Aesthetics are the
characteristics of beauty
or pleasure that appeal
to the senses and not
necessarily to the logical
mind.

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Considerations that lead to positive responses
on the space/environment

Formal
Aesthetic
This focuses on the
physical aspects of
aesthetics such as:
• Dimensions
• Enclosures
• Complexity
• Order

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Considerations that lead to positive responses
on the space/environment
This oftentimes complements formal
Symbolic aesthetics. It denotes (represents) or
connotes (implies) meaning ,and
Aesthetic evaluated through:
• Naturalness or the level in which natural
elements were used in the design
• Upkeep or the level in which the design
can be easily maintained
• Intensity of use or the presence of
particular function
• Style or the over-all design character

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Considerations that lead to positive responses
on the space/environment
Wabi-sabi is a concept
in traditional Japanese
Wabi-sabi aesthetics constituting
a world view centered
on the acceptance of
transience and
imperfection. The
aesthetic is sometimes
described as one of
beauty that is
"imperfect,
impermanent, and
incomplete".
Theory of Architecture 1
Considerations that lead to positive responses
on the space/environment

Wabi-sabi

The seasons, aging,

destruction and rebirth,
life and death, and
decay form part of the
aesthetic principle of
wabi-sabi

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Considerations that lead to positive responses
on the space/environment

Color Varying colors are proven to cause

varying levels of stimulation to our eyes’
retina. For thousands of years, our
ancestors’ have learned to get cues
from nature on how to best survive the
challenges of the natural world:
• Blue skies mean clear weather, grey
skies mean stormy
• Ultramarine skies mean night-time
• Yellow light is associated to the sun
• Green fruits are often unripe and
sour
• Yellow and orange fruits are often
sweet
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Considerations that lead to positive responses
on the space/environment
• Due to available intense light,
Color cultures in tropical regions
prefer bright colors than hose
in higher latitudes
• Warm colors appear closer
while cool colors appear to
recede
• Our eyes often try to match
the prominent color with its
slightly desaturated
complementary color

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Considerations that lead to positive responses
on the space/environment

Color and Way- Way-finding is a function of elements,

particularly of form. Our ancestors
Finding typically refer to the stars (at night) or
mountain peaks and land forms to afford
way-finding.
However, color plays a significant role in
recall of features and forms used in way-
finding. It is because the play are of light
(and its varying wavelengths) are the
images stored in our memory which are
later retrieved when navigating through
space. Hence, the color-coded maps
used to orient visitors of certain facilities.

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Considerations that lead to positive responses
on the space/environment

Way-finding employs the following

Color and Way- mechanisms:
Finding • Visual Access – line of sight that allows
for understanding of access and
identification of reference points
• Architectural Delineation – separation
of varying features (i.e. change in floor
levels)
• Signage & Numbering – symbols used
in the space to specifically denote
navigational references
• Building Layout – the logical spatial
organization that defines circulation
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Considerations that lead to positive responses
on the space/environment

Segmentation Bias – our mental

Way-Finding division of space into segments
with which we assign reference
elements or mages

Legible

Confusing Theory of Architecture 1

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