NCJ Number
189144
Journal
Environment and Behavior Volume: 33 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2001 Pages: 543-571
Editor(s)
Terry Hartig
Date Published
July 2001
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the potential for mental fatigue increasing the propensity for outbursts of anger or violence, and contact with nature mitigating the mental fatigue and reducing aggression and violence among inner-city urban public housing residents.
Abstract
This study reviewed the theory and evidence that suggested that natural settings assist in the recovery from mental fatigue and that aggression will increase with mental fatigue and decrease with its recovery. An analysis suggested that residents of inner-city neighborhoods may be subject to chronic mental fatigue. In addition, the possibility that the presence of trees and grass may lower the incidence of aggressive and violent behavior among residents in an urban public housing community. Levels of aggression were compared for 145 urban public housing female residents randomly assigned to buildings with varying levels of nearby nature (trees and grass). Residents living in relatively barren buildings reported more aggression and violence than did their counterparts in greener buildings. In addition, levels of mental fatigue were higher in barren buildings, and aggression accompanied mental fatigue. Tables and references