Nature makes us nicer, according to new study

By Trystan L. Bass

Posted Tue Oct 6, 2009 10:40am PDT

Not only can a walk in the park be relaxing, looking at greenery can actually improve your relationships and make you more generous. That's what a University of Rochester research team discovered in a series of studiespublished on October 1, 2009.Nearly 400 people looked at photos of either natural environments or man-made landscapes. Then these participants answered questions about the importance of personal relationships, community, wealth, and fame. In some of the studies, people were also given $5 to keep or pass along to another participant.

People who looked at pictures of nature in the study placed a high value on being connected to other people in their lives and community. These same people were more likely to share their money with others. The people who only looked at urban cityscapes didn't rate relationships or generosity as very important. They placed more emphasis on wealth and fame.

Study coauthor and professor of psychology, psychiatry, and education Richard Ryan said this shows how "stopping to experience our natural surroundings can have social as well as personal benefits."

Lead author Netta Weinstein agrees: "We are influenced by our environment in ways that we are not aware of." She suggests that this information points to the need for more green spaces in cities.