Ecological Psychology

Ecological Psychology is a term claimed by several psychologists but two main schools of thought are based on the writings of J.J. Gibson and Roger G. Barker. Barker argued that human behavior was “radically situated”; that is, human behavior could only be understood contextually. Behaviors couldn’t be predicted without a deep understanding of the environment the behavior was enacted in. 

 

The relationship between individual, behavior, and environment is explained through behavior settings. These are “mediating structures that help explain the relationship between the dynamic behavior of individuals and stable social structure” (Wikipedia). In a behavior setting, the behavior and the environment have a greater interdependence then the same behavior would have in a different environment. 

 

For example, if a person wants to have a cavity filled, the standing pattern would be for them to attend a dentist’s office. The objects in that office fit that standing pattern (dentist, drill, chair). The environment and behavior are tied into each other. If a person performed the same behavior, but instead went to a hairdresser, then the behavior would be meaningless.

 

 

 

Wikipedia. Ecological Psychology. Retrieved October 8, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_psychology

 

Giles, D. C. , 2003-05-27 "An ecological psychology approach to the study of audiences" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Marriott Hotel, San Diego, CA Online <.PDF>. Retrieved October 6, 2008 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p112304_index.html

 

Wikipedia, Behavior Settings. Retrieved October 8, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavior_settings