Analysis of the relationship between built environm

Environmental Psychology
Assignment 1.0

BIPASHA BANERJEE - 75302300042

DETAILS: Name – Bipasha Banerjee SAP ID – 75302300042 Batch – 1

ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
ASSIGNMENT 1.0

INTRODUCTION:
Environment- the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded. It
includes the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (such as climate, soil,
and living things) and the manmade abiotic factors (such as buildings, roads, pools
etc) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine
its form and survival, affecting the sociological aspects and elements or an individual.
Relationship between the environment and psychology may be summed up as the
effects of the natural and built environments on human behaviour, experiences and
development of social norms.

For the given topic of analysis, the variables and/or elements chosen by me are the
psychological effects of noise on a student in a hostel setting along with a study of the effects
of colouring scheme of hostel rooms and their psychological and physiological effects on
college students.

The aspects I will be covering on the effects of noise as a cause of disturbances are:
 Lack of focus and concentration
 Lack of sleep
 Fear/shock, feeling of unsafety.
 Irritable behaviour.
The effects of the colouring scheme in hostel settings on students I will be covering are:
 Causation of negative feelings such are loneliness.
 Effects on sleeping schedules.
 Lethargic behaviour.
 Lack of attention span.
DETAILS: Name – Bipasha Banerjee SAP ID – 75302300042 Batch – 1

LITERATURE REVIEW:

 Paper 1 - A Survey of the Weekday Outdoor Noisescapes at Students’ Hostels,

University of Maiduguri, Nigeria using Android Smartphones.

Authors: J. B. Ashalva, F. K. Abayomi, E. O. Francis, S. Ali, Y. H. Ngadda, M. Hassan and A.

Adamu

(Sep. – Oct. 2021, IOSR Journal of Applied Physics)

The paper titled "Examining Weekday Outdoor Noise Surroundings at Student Dormitories,
University of Maiduguri, Nigeria Using Android Smartphones," offers a thorough
investigation into the sound environment surrounding student hostels at the University of
Maiduguri, Nigeria. The study uses Android smartphones as tools for data collection to
measure noise levels outside dorms on weekdays. The research seeks to yield valuable
insights into the noise pollution encountered by student residents and its possible
consequences on their academic performance and well-being.

The authors use a quantitative survey-based approach, making use of a collection of dispersed
smartphones to note real-time noise recordings. The paper thoroughly assesses the collected
data, highlighting movements and patterns of noise intensity during weekdays. Moreover, it
goes through possible noise origins and their contribution to the overall sonic environment.
The study's findings hold suggestions for urban planning, environmental administration, and
student welfare. This literature review emphasizes the study's significance in illuminating the
noise exposure faced by students in a university setting, highlighting the significance of
effective noise management strategies in cultivating an environment conducive to both
learning and living. This study contributes to understanding noise's public health impact in
educational settings.
DETAILS: Name – Bipasha Banerjee SAP ID – 75302300042 Batch – 1

 Paper 2 - Relationship Between Colour and Emotion: A Study of College Students

Autor: Naz Kaya

(College Student Journal, 2004)

The research article "Relationship between Colour and Emotion: A Study of College
Students" by Naz Kaya explores the detailed connection between colour and emotional
responses to it, focusing on college students’ responses to it. The study delves into the
psychological impact of colours on individuals' emotional responses, shedding light on the
potential implications for various environmental settings.

Through a detailed study involving college students, the research attempts to unravel the
emotional associations caused by different hues. By analysing participants' reactions to a
spectrum of colours, namely principal colours, intermediate hues and achromatic colours, the
study seeks to identify patterns and correlations that link specific colours to distinct
emotional states.

This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the role colours play in influencing
emotions, both positive and negative, which holds significance for fields such as marketing,
design, architecture, psychology etc. The findings hold potential implications for creating
environments that bring forth desired emotional responses and enhancing user experiences.
Kaya's work adds valuable insights to the existing knowledge surrounding the complex
relationship between colour and emotion, extending our understanding of the human
cognitive and emotional processes.
DETAILS: Name – Bipasha Banerjee SAP ID – 75302300042 Batch – 1

 Paper 3- Effects of Interior Colours on Mood and Preference: Comparisons of Two

Living Rooms.

Authors: Kemal Yildirim, M. Lutfi Hidayetoglu, Aysen Capanoglu

(Perceptual and Motor Skills 2011)

The study titled "Effects of Interior Colours on Mood and Preference: Comparisons of Two
Living Rooms" investigates the influence of interior colours on emotions, particularly in the
context of two distinct living room settings. The research tries to comprehend how colour
choices impact individuals' emotional states and aesthetic preferences within interior spaces.

By employing a comparative analysis approach, the research thoroughly examines the effects
of different colour schemes in two living room designs. This study aims to discover patterns
in how colours contribute to mood modulation and emotional regulation among participants.
Through systematic assessment and comparison, the paper offers insights into the relationship
between colour, mood, and aesthetic inclination.

The findings of this research contribute significantly to interior design practices, providing
evidence to make informed colour selections based on desired emotional outcomes and
preferences. The study states the significance of colour as a crucial design element. It
highlighted how achromatic colours are associated with mainly negative emotions, cold
colours with feelings of calm and restfulness and warm colours with stimulating and exciting
emotions. It highlights the relationship between interior colours, mood, and personal
preferences, shaping the way we perceive and interact with our living environments.
DETAILS: Name – Bipasha Banerjee SAP ID – 75302300042 Batch – 1

CASE STUDY

In this following case study, I shall be covering two important aspects of an environment,
namely sound or noise and colour schemes and their effects of the psychological and
physiological effects on human beings. The built environment chosen by me is a hostel for
college going students of the ages ranging mainly from 16 to 25.

1. NOISE: noise and sound have always played an important part in formulating a
cohesive environment for all species of creatures, especially for humans. I shall be
studying the effects sound and noise in my environment on the psychological and
physiological aspects of my being.
 Lack of focus or concentration: the main sources of noise surrounding
my hostel are the constant sounds of constructions and the loud noises
of music on speakers due to frequent social gatherings. These sources of
noise cause a hindrance in cognitive aspects of focus and concentration.
It makes it very hard for me to be able to sit and concentrate on a book
or an assignment with the constant sudden noises. Due to such
disturbances my academic life may suffer because my ability to retain
information is diminished and I am unable to give my complete
attention to projects and assignments due to these constant disturbances.
 Lack of sleep: due the to age group of the people in my hostel the
frequencies of mid night and late-night parties are very high. That can
lead to various noises at night such as loud music, the opening, closing
or even banging of doors, loud social gatherings causing hooting and
shouting etc. These noises may begin from 9 a.m. at night and last till 2
or even 3 a.m. in the morning. They are a very prominent source of
disturbances that keeps me up at night. The sleep schedule is disrupted
due to such disturbances which causes a lack of sleep resulting in the
feelings of lethargy, irritability and tiredness during the day.
 Fear/shock, feeling of unsafety: loud noises such as the banging of
doors (considered to be a fun activity by the residents of my hostel),
sudden screaming and shouting in enjoyment, loud fights among
residents, noises of things being thrown out of balconies for fun etc are
DETAILS: Name – Bipasha Banerjee SAP ID – 75302300042 Batch – 1

all sounds that cause a sudden shock or an element of surprise in people.

These are common in my hostel and happen frequently. These sudden,
loud frequency sounds sometimes instil a feeling or fear or unsafety on
me. Noises of screaming or fighting makes me feel uneasy and sudden
noises of the banging of the doors scares me. They prove to be sources
of disturbances and disrupt my mental peace.
 Irritable behaviour: due to noise being such a prominent source of
major disturbances, the focus, sleep, and sense of safety are all
disrupted. This in turns leads me and others to behave irritably
sometimes due to the inability to be able to focus on and finish a task, or
due to lack of sleep, or simply since we’re mentally overstimulated
because of so much noise.

2. COLOUR SCHEME: the colours used in my dorm room in this hostel mainly
comprise of grey, green-yellow, white and light brown. The colour scheme chosen by
my hostel is a set of cold shades mixed with achromatic colours which leads to the
various feelings of calm, lethargy, loneliness, dullness etc. Even though a painting
consisting of geometric shapes of bright warm colours is put in each dorm room, it
does very little to change the effects of the colour scheme of the entire room and the
entire hostel. I shall be delving deeper into the effects of this colour scheme on human
cognition and behaviour.
 Causation of negative feelings such as loneliness: studies have proven
that cold tones such as blues, purples and greens are associated with
negative emotions such as stagnation, lack of life, lack of motivation,
boredom, sadness and loneliness. My dorm room is painted in a light
green-yellow shade of colour and white. This colour specifically makes
me feel alone and lonely. It has also amplified the feelings of nausea
and dizziness during the time I had viral.
 Effects on sleeping schedules: the colour scheme in my dorm and the
hostel rooms mainly comprise of shades of grey, white (achromatic
colours) and cold tones like a light dull grey-blue or a yellow green.
Such colours increase the sense of lethargy in the students living here.
DETAILS: Name – Bipasha Banerjee SAP ID – 75302300042 Batch – 1

These tones of colours cause an increase in the sleeping hours of the

student since it makes them feel more tired and lethargic. Perhaps
because of the increased sense of calmness and/or gloominess due to
these dull, cold tones, a result of an increased sleeping pattern is
noticed.
 Lethargic behaviour: as mentioned in the point above, the cold tones
are noted to cause a sense of laziness and tiredness among the students
living in the hostel. These particular colours cause a sense of low
motivation as well, resulting in lethargic behaviour, which is noted by
an increase in time spent on laying down on the bed and engaging in
non-productive tasks such as the usage of phones to scroll through
social media.
 Lack of attention span: a lowered level of attention span is also noted
among the students when compared to their attention given to a task at
college to the attention span given to a similar task at the hostel. The
cold and achromatic tones reduce the sense of motivation to work,
which in turn results in a much-lowered attention span.

In conclusion, the colouring scheme and the noisy environment surrounding a hostel in
Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, has various adverse effects on the residents of the hostel, especially
the students, which may result in the hampered growth of their personal, academic, and
mental life.
DETAILS: Name – Bipasha Banerjee SAP ID – 75302300042 Batch – 1

RECOMMENDATIONS

Upon studying and analysing the hostel environment I currently reside in, I would like to put
forth the following recommendations to help create a better, more cohesive environment for
the residents to stay in.

1. With respect to sound:

 A time restriction for social gatherings may be implemented, stating that there
shall be no social gatherings after 9 p.m. as it disturbs the other residents who
are not attending the gathering.
 If a social gathering is necessary after 9 p.m., it shall be inside the room of a
particular resident, with the consent of the other roommates. Speakers in such
cases shall be prohibited and the maximum number of people allowed at such
a gathering should be limited to 5 people to reduce the noise disturbances to
the minimum.
 A noise check shall be applicable for all residents stating a restriction on any
noise that is loud enough to cause disturbances and discomfort to the rest of
the residents such as loud music on speakers.
 The usage of speakers in common areas such as the mess, study rooms or
garden shall be prohibited, residents shall be expected to use earphones for
personal usage.
2. With respect to the colour scheme:
 The colours of the curtains in the rooms covering the main balcony may be
changed from a brown-grey to a brighter, perhaps pastel tone of yellow, pink
or blue.
 The colour scheme of the rooms may be changed from a nauseating yellow-
green to a brighter blue or yellow.
 The dark grey bedsheets may be changed to other printed bedsheets, perhaps
even cheaper than these.
 More paintings may be added to the room and the freedom to attach pictures
and personal paintings to the cupboards or doors shall be given to the residents
to make the room feel livelier and more personalized.
 Instead of having just 1 wall of the room pained in a tone other than white, at
least 2 walls may be painted with a bright pastel tone of yellow, blue or pink.