MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACH IN PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION

Abstract

Ponte Academic JournalFeb 2018, Volume 74, Issue 2 MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACH IN PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAuthor(s): Olga LopukhovaJ. Ponte - Feb 2018 - Volume 74 - Issue 2 doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2018.2.2 Abstract:The article analyses the development of environmental approach to explore personalitys well-being, health and happiness systems in psychology and education. Revision of one hundred sources about the environmental approach allowed us to reveal the main trends in the development of theoretical and applied areas in psychology, psychotherapy and education. Different viewpoints on interaction mechanisms in the person-environment system in the article were examined. They are congruence theories of person-environment interaction (Kahana, 1982), Dynamic features and person-environmental resources conception of Moos (1991), Four-front approach of Wright and Lopez (2002) and Engagement model of person-environment interaction of Neufeld et al. (2006). The current state of the environmental approach in applied areas of psychology and education focuses on the conditions, which should provide personalitys harmonious development, and allow removing or minimization stress factors that violate personal well-being. These conditions, in general, presuppose an orientation toward the natural environment as a resource for the human psyche as well as the active inclusion of a person in the care of the environment and formation of ecological consciousness. The review of inter-level representations current state interactions in the person-environment system covers the fields of intercultural psychology, geographical psychology, ecological psychology and environmental psychotherapy. In conclusion, modern person-environment system representation was shown. It contributes preservation and restoration to personalitys well-being and mental health system, assumes a person position as an active subject of interaction with environment. It is important to perceive nature as a harmony and health source for modern person who lives mostly in built environment and to develop ecological consciousness that means to take responsibility for the environment. Download full text:Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution Username Password