Date of Defense
4-23-2025
Date of Graduation
4-2025
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Cynthia Pietras
Second Advisor
Maureen Mickus
Third Advisor
Bethany Hintze
Keywords
Aggression, Nature Imagery, Nature Exposure, Social Decision Making, PSAP, Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm
Abstract
Research has identified nature exposure as broadly beneficial for human well-being. Exposure to nature imagery has been associated with physiological, affective, and cognitive benefits. Nature exposure has also been associated with lower levels of trait aggression in individuals living in urban settings. Experimental research has found that viewing nature videos can reduce aggressive responding on laboratory tasks in humans. However, no prior experimental study has determined if nature exposure effects on aggression are observable within participants on a laboratory task.
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether nature exposure reduced aggression in participants directly provoked by money loss. Aggression was measured by the Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm (PSAP), a well-validated laboratory task that presents participants with three button choices that allow them to earn money, take money from a simulated partner, and protect their earnings. It was hypothesized that aggression would be lower in the Nature condition. Six participants (N = 6) experienced both the Nature and Built conditions in a counterbalanced order. Participants experienced the first condition, engaged in a twelve-minute PSAP session, were given a three-minute break, then experienced the second condition and engaged in another twelve-minute PSAP session. Following their second PSAP session, participants completed three questionnaires to assess task strategies, belief in the simulated partner, and trait aggression. Participants were also read an initial debriefing statement and paid for their participation.
Four participants engaged in relatively low levels of aggression across conditions. Two participants who engaged in moderate aggression displayed differentiation across conditions, with lower aggression in the Nature condition. Aggression levels across conditions were not statistically significantly different. Further research is needed to expand upon these preliminary findings. Suggestions for future research include adding replications and longer condition exposures, implementing a no-video PSAP control session, examining why nature may impact aggression, and evaluating a chaotic nature condition.
Recommended Citation
Ligman, Claudia, "Exposure to Nature Imagery and Human Aggression" (2025). Honors Theses. 3946.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/3946
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Restricted
Restricted to Campus until
6-11-2026