1. Describe the concepts of territoriality, privacy, and personal space.
The traditional explanation of territoriality was emphasized on the marking off and protection of a physical border line from invasion by those of similar kind. Of late, the definition has been modernized to refer explicitly to oversee the space around an organism, particularly the distance between themselves as well as with others of the same species (Linda 2010). In humans, territoriality falls inside three domains: the public, primary and secondary. Public territories are open to any person. They pursue the basis of first-come first-serve. Primary territories are that are belong solely to a person for a reasonably permanent amount of time. Primary territories have shown to enhance belongingness to societal groups in people, in employment situations. This in turn lessens turnovers and boosts performance. Secondary territories refer to those areas which are not owned permanently or wholly, however, they are rented semi-public or public spaces. People mark two kinds of territories; permanent and temporary a permanent territory is that which a person occupies for many years for instance a person's home or a child's room, whereas, a temporary territory can be an area on a beach or a few chairs in a cafeteria.
The concept of privacy is becoming more and more important in the digital world. Privacy involves the relations of individuals with other people and the sharing or limiting of information or physical contact with these people. Vital to the concept of privacy is an individual’s ability to make decisions about openness or closeness and the ability to control degrees of openness. Not only is privacy concerned with the guarding of information or physical contact, but also with making these things accessible to others. Privacy is a flexible concept which varies depending not only on the nature of the situation but also on the individuals involved in that situation (Jess 2010).
Personal space refers to the physical space a person chooses by which to preserve interpersonal relationships. It is an area with unseen boundaries bordering a person’s body into which trespassers cannot come. Neuroscientific research states personal space is formed and arbitrated by the human brain, and even though boundaries change within situations, it is of importance as well as consequence to all persons (Deborah 2011). There are numerous different varieties of personal space; personal distance 18 to 48 inches, intimate distance 0 to18 inches, public distance of 12 to 25 feet and social distance of 4 to 12 feet. Each distance has socially, biologically and culturally predicated rules that govern which individuals are permitted within that distances and how to interrelate with those persons once they are inside that zones.
2. Examine how the concepts of territoriality, privacy, and personal space have become increasingly important as populations become denser.
Population density affects people. An increase in population density increases the chances that violations will take place in the boundaries of territory, personal space and privacy. Population density is responsible for the psychological outcomes of crowding whereby people feel curbed and restricted with little access to the necessary requirements. There has been a link between crowding and social withdrawal, aggression, inappropriate social interaction and increased criminal acts. It is crucial to maintain personal space, privacy and honor territoriality as a vital human social need when decreasing the symptoms of crowding (Deborah 2011).
3. Clarify the effect nature (e.g., zoos, parks, gardens) has on individuals living in urban environments.
According to Jess (2010), research has shown that humans are reliant on nature not only for material needs but possibly more importantly for psychological, spiritual needs and emotional needs. Nature plays a crucial role in human health and well-being. Health studies have shown when an individual is contact with nature, that is, with animals, with plants, with the wilderness and with pleasing landscapes; it offers a variety of medical benefits. These include lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure levels, and enhanced survival after a heart attack, lower self-reported stress, fewer minor medical complaints and more rapid recovery from surgery.
4. Describe the concept of noise and examine the effect that it has on individuals.
According to Stoker (2010), noise is whichever sound that is unnecessary or hampers with the normal broadcast of acoustic information. Health psychologists have considered the negative impact on health due to chronically noisy environments such as chronic stress and the high levels of stress hormones that go with it. Continuous exposure to noise increases the risk of one getting cardiovascular disease and diminishes the learning ability of a person. Children, in particular, are the most vulnerable to the disturbing effects of unending noise as they learn maladaptive abilities which heighten them to block particular stimuli. This may be a big problem since its known that children lack the capacity to fully comprehend which stimuli should be chunked and which is important to their learning experience.
5. Examine at least two strategies that can be used to reduce noise in the workplace or in the living environment.
The outside noises craft their way inside the home and often there is little control that a person can exercise over such noise. Installation of an additional fabric over windows, as well as fabric, as wall décor and stuffed furnishings is way to lessen noise within the home (stoker 2010). Coating windows with covers of fabric helps very much to lessen the quantity of noise flowing inside homes through the windows since noise travels faster without trouble through glass than through insulated walls.
Some industries now use a new technology that utilize computer microprocessors to generate conflicting sound waves to noise, in so doing, it terminates the noise out in general This kind of technology is mainly resourceful in circumstances where repetitive noise is displayed. This is so, because the conflicting waves are easier to create since they are at all times the same. Furthermore, sound absorbing equipments can be positioned between equipment and people so as to shield people from unnecessary noise. Usage of sound cancelling technology and sound absorbing materials helps to reduce noise to a bearable level (stoker 2010).
According to Janet (2013), employers should develop and put into practice a workplace noise policy for employees who are exposed to excessive noise levels. The policies should be designed to protect employees from hearing loss brought about by prolonged exposure to detrimental levels of noise. Employers must assess the levels of workplace noise at their organization and take the necessary steps for improvement. This may involve changing a company's strategy for dealing with noise levels. It is advisable that organizations from time to time review their noise policies and their effectiveness in reducing noise levels in the office.
References
Deborah, S (2011). Psychological Musings. Retrieved on 30 Oct from
http://psychological-musings.blogspot.com/2011/07/effects-of-population-density-and-
noise.html
Linda, B. & Jess, F. (2010). Health Psychology: An Introduction to Behavior and Health.
7thEd.Belmont: Nelson Education Ltd.
Stoker, C. (2010). The Effects of Population Density. Retrieved on 30 Oct from
http://stokercg2913.blogspot.com/2010/07/effects-of-population-density.html
Janet, H. (2013). Two Strategies That Can Be Used to Reduce Noise in the Workplace. Retrieved
On 30 Oct from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/two-strategies-can-used-reduce- noise-workplace-12648.html
