Rachel and Stephen Kaplan

Rachel and Stephen Kaplan are renowned in the field of environmental psychology. Professors of psychology at the University of Michigan, the Kaplans are known for their research on the effect of nature on people’s relationships and health. Their work on “restorative environments” and Attention Restoration Theory has had a tremendous impact on how landscape and design professionals and others view humanities relationship with nature. The Kaplans got involved in studying the effects of nature on people back in the 1970’s with a US Forest Service grant to evaluate a challenge program in Michigan’s wilderness. This introduction went on to influence a generations worth of environmental psychologists and designers.

The Kaplans have found that too much focused attention on anything can lead to mental fatigue and such fatigues remedy is found in exposure to nature. In order for nature to best work its relaxing effect it is preferable for a place to have a high fascination value. An environment that automatically pulls the viewer into it is most beneficial. The Kaplans research has found that office workers with a view of nature were happier and healthier at work. Exposure to natural environments of the most mundane sort has proven to lift people’s moods and enhance their ability to mentally focus.

Recent research of the Kaplans has also shown that exercisers who walk outside in pleasant environments tend to walk longer than those who walk inside or around their neighborhoods.