Nature experience influences nature aversion: Comparison of South Korea and Germany

Abstract

People in modern metropolitan societies are often presented with only limited opportunities for experiencing nature in the wild, so that there is an increasing tendency for them to feel nature aversion, that is, an uncomfortable awkwardness when in a truly natural environment. Our purpose in this study was to investigate nature aversion. In an international comparative study, we compared the nature aversion of people in South Korea and Germany, with results revealing that the degree of aversion toward a natural environment is higher in a society where nature experiences are more limited and there is a low frequency of encounters. In this situation there is a risk that the perception of discomfort in a natural environment may develop further into nature experience phobia.