Relaxing or Exciting? Mobile Emotion Recording in Natural Settings

Abstract

The health benefits of experiencing nature are well-known. Several established theories, such as attention restoration, biophilia, and awe theories, suggest that lowered emotional arousal is a mechanism of the health effects of experiencing nature. This has not been tested in nature walking experiences in the field, and has not accounted for the recent trend of constructing built features such towers, bridges, and museums to bring visitors in closer touch with nature. Wearable skin conductance recording technology has recently opened this avenue for research. The present study shows that these built features were associated with lower emotional arousal than natural areas, or than purely functional built features. However, individuals reporting improvment in health over the visit experienced relatively lower arousal in natural areas, yet higher arousal at built features such as bridges, towers, and museums aimed to bring them closer to nature. These effects point to biophilia and attention restoration occurring in natural environments, while built features focused on nature may be triggering awe.