Virtuous transactions between persons and environments: in search of connections between environments, psychology, and design [Transazioni virtuose tra persone e ambienti: alla ricerca delle connessioni tra ambienti, psicologia e design]

In this paper, we considered three research areas in which the psychological investigation of the interaction between persons and environments led to a better understanding of the complex relationship between features of the environments and human cognition: (1) the restorative effects of environments, (2) the relationship between environments and mind wandering, (3) the effects of the environments on creative performance. After the presentation of the main results obtained in these areas, we proposed a framework integrating some of the theoretical insights obtained in these research areas. Following the Attention Restoration Theory, we suggested that the perception of the environment would automatically trigger its evaluation based on some fundamental psychological dimensions. Under favorable circumstances, this evaluation would stimulate psychological processes (soft fascination) leading to a recovery of attentional and cognitive resources after a state of mental fatigue. Soft fascination would enable other processes, reflection or mind wandering, allowing to enhance attentional recovery or to promote the discovery of novel association between information, respectively. In turn, attention recovery, reduction of disturbing or interfering thoughts, and discovery of novel associations would improve the cognitive and creative potential of the person. Direct stimulation from environmental cues, e.g., in the form of inspiration that could be drawn from natural elements or environments, would also contribute to this creative potential. The extent to which a person could experience the cognitively regenerating effects of the interaction with natural environments is supposed to be moderated by individual differences (e.g., values and connection with nature) and by the type of engagement required by the specific form of interaction (e.g., contemplation vs. attention-demanding climbing). The interaction with some environments would also promote the improvement of emotional state and stress reduction, via different mechanisms than the ones underlying restorative effects, leading to further positive consequences for cognition and creativity. The proposed integrative framework suggests novel research directions and it may provide cues for the design of environments aiming at improving cognition and wellbeing.