Psych Prelim Question 4

Briefly describe each of the 5 HER processes - environmental stimulation, homeyness, personal space, territoriality, privacy

Environmental stimulation: Quantity and quality of stimulation from one's environment can influence their physical development and behavior. Homeyness: A latent function of a residence or other space that leads to feelings of comfort, connection, personal as opposed to institutional identity or ambiance Personal space: Interpersonal distance or the zone (bubble) around our bodies that we maintain when interacting with another person. Territoriality: Spaces that we control or regulate use by others. Personal, group, and public territories operate for human beings. Place attachment and identification are additional aspects of human territoriality. Privacy: A dynamic optimization process regulating the balance between achieved and desired interpersonal interaction.

Describe one aspect of a user-designer gap in this common living space that needs improvement. Generate hypothetical data (i.e. graph, table, etc) illustrating this incongruence. Please explain precisely how your data illustrate a user-designer gap.

One aspect of the user-designer gap in the common living space described is the issue of personal space due to the limited seating options. To illustrate this incongruence, we can create a hypothetical table showing the number of available seats in the lounge versus the number of people living in the suite. Explanation of the Data and User-Designer Gap: In the hypothetical data, there are five people living in the suite, but there are only three available seats in the lounge area (one couch and one chair). This data clearly illustrates the user-designer gap in terms of personal space as a complete use of the space by all individuals would promote intrusions of individuals' personal 'bubbles.

Select one characteristic of the common area you have described in part b and describe how latent and manifest function are, or are not, applicable to that characteristic.

In the described common area of the lounge in Keeton House at Cornell, one characteristic that can be analyzed in terms of latent and manifest functions is the lack of natural light due to the absence of windows. Manifest Function: The manifest function of the lounge's lack of natural light is the immediate and observable impact it has on the space. It makes the area feel dark and uncomfortable, as mentioned in the above response. This directly affects the ambiance and the overall usability of the lounge. Manifest functions are the intended and evident consequences of a design or feature, and in this case, the lack of windows manifestly leads to a dimly lit and potentially less inviting environment. Latent function: Latent functions, on the other hand, are the unintended or less obvious consequences of a design or feature. In the case of the lounge's lack of natural light, one latent function could be its impact on my person and suitemates' well-being and mood. Limited exposure to natural light can affect individuals' circadian rhythms, mood, and overall mental health. It may lead to feelings of discomfort, gloominess, and stress among those using the lounge regularly, which could, in turn, affect their academic and social experiences at Cornell.

Take the same example from part d. and now generate data for a person by environment interaction. Explain how your pattern of data shows this. Please explain your answer.

To illustrate a person by environment interaction in the context of the common living space, we can consider how an individual's perception of the space varies depending on the time of day. We can create a hypothetical graph showing how my roommate's comfort level in the lounge changes throughout the day. Explanation of the Data and Person-Environment Interaction: - In the morning (8:00 AM), the resident's comfort level is relatively high at 8. This could be because the lounge receives some natural light during this time from the small window, making it a more pleasant and comfortable environment. - As the day progresses to noon (12:00 PM), the comfort level drops significantly to 3. This decrease in comfort may be due to the absence of encompassing natural light, as mentioned earlier because residents have perceived natural light from other spaces (i.g. classrooms, dining halls, etc.) and the space is now perceived as deprived of natural light which makes the space feel dark and uncomfortable during the daytime. - In the late afternoon (4:00 PM), the comfort level increases slightly to 5. This improvement could be because the lounge benefits from natural light again as the sun begins to set, creating a more inviting atmosphere. - By the evening (8:00 PM), the comfort level decreases to 3. This decline may be due to factors like the lack of personal space mentioned earlier or the general wear and tear of the lounge as more people use it throughout the day. The data pattern illustrates a person-environment interaction, where the resident's perception of comfort in the lounge is influenced by the time of day and, consequently, the environmental conditions. The lounge's design (or lack thereof, such as the absence of windows) directly impacts the resident's comfort at different times. This interaction highlights how environmental factors can significantly affect an individual's experience within a shared living space, and it emphasizes the importance of designing spaces that consider the comfort and needs of the occupants throughout the day.

Evaluate a common area (e.g. lounge, living room) where you currently live at Cornell. Do this for three out of the five HER processes explaining how/why the HER process applies.

Currently I live in a suite with four others in the Keeton House on the west side of campus. There is a lounge at the end of the four individual dorm rooms that can be described as a common area. Some HER processes that apply to this area are; environmental stimulation, homeyness, and personal space. In terms of environmental stimulation, there are no windows in the lounge which neglects the important aspect of receiving stimulation from the environment; specifically nature. The lack of natural light makes the space feel dark and uncomfortable. This leads to the second application of an HER process, homeyness. Along with a lack of natural light, there are no pictures, plants, blankets, carpets, etc. that would make the space feel 'homey. This lack of 'homey aspects leads to the space feeling very institutional as the furniture is basic and the room itself lacks identity. The final HER process applicable to my suite's common area is personal space. The space itself is rather small in relation to the amount of people that would congregate within it. There is a single couch and a chair so if three out of the five people are using the space, two are sitting next to each other on the small couch.This leads to an intrusion in personal space of the two sitting on the couch as they are basically touching when sitting. Personally I've chosen to not sit on the couch as I feel when someone else sits there as well, my personal bubble is being violated. All of these applications of HER processes to my living area at Cornell have led to an incongruence in the common area.