PSY 460 Effects of Population Density and Noise

PSY 460 Effects of Population Density and Noise

Population density is a term described as the ratio of people and organisms in relation to the size of the area they inhabit. This ratio is derived by taking the number of people in the given area and diving the number by the area occupied. As of the 2010 Census, there were 308,745,538 people in the United States. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2013). This means the population density is on average 87.4 people per square mile in the United States. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2013). Some states, like California and Florida have a density of 200 people per square mile. These figures are a prime example of crowding in many places. As population density increases, the noise from the population is going to increase especially in crowded areas. As people are moving into smaller and more confined areas, the ability to maintain their privacy and a sense of territoriality will change and be forced to adapt. In order to understand how population density truly affects people, the concepts of noise, privacy, territoriality, and personal space must be acknowledged and applied to the subject of populations.

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Territoriality, Privacy, and Personal Space
Individuals will experience proximity or closeness with every other person in the world at one time or another. Proxemics is the actual term used when describing the person-environmental associations and covers the terms of territoriality, crowding, and personal space.

Territoriality
The term territoriality refers to the way people use space to show ownership of areas and possessions in a non verbal method. Our personal space is our own personal bubble we do not want invaded. Territoriality has three main categories; primary, secondary, and public. The primary territories are ones that an individual owns for a permanent amount of time. The secondary territories are the areas not owned exclusively by an individual, such as a rental property or a public space. The public territories are those areas open to everyone and anyone to use. People are most familiar with the public territories and even though the person will maintain their “bubble” encroachment is more accepted in public. Each of the territories can overlap in their domains, but typically the lines are clear for individuals.

Privacy
Territorial practices and behaviors are designed to maintain a certain degree of privacy. The differences in territorial boundaries will decide the privacy factor of each, such as where an individual will expect the most privacy or least amount of privacy. Technology advances have raised some concerns regarding the control of information of others, even though it also is trying to define a balance of privacy verses public information. People usually want their privacy and their personal information to stay private, however technology is making the spread of information much easier as time progresses.

Personal Space
Personal space is an individuals invisible boundary. Basically meaning the space around the person is considered the primary territory and is private. Developing this space depends on a number of factors, such as gender, age, environment, culture, and mental stability. People tend to have a rule when it comes to their personal space and how close others can come to them. An example of this would be: an intimate distance of zero to two feet, a personal distance of two feet to four feet, a social distance of four feet to 12 feet, and a public distance of 12 feet to 25 feet. Each of those “rules of space” have culturally, socially, and biologically predicated rules that decide on who is allowed within those distances and how to interact with the individuals allowed in the zones. Since personal space is not a fixed distance, any of those rules can change.

Population Density and Territoriality, Privacy, and Personal Space
Population density affects people and contributes to the psychological effects of crowding. “Crowding is a psychological state that occurs when the need for space exceeds the available supply” (Steg, L. 2013, p. 31). This crowding leads to irregular social interactions, limiting behavioral options, and leads to invasion of personal space (Steg, L. 2013). Crowding also causes more physiological stress on individuals and can lead to social withdrawal. People in general have a need for their own space and because the population is growing constantly, the premium on space has increased. As population is becoming denser, the territories of individuals have shrunk. This leads to frustration, anxiety, and other psychological issues for many people. When population density increases, the needs for privacy, territoriality, and personal space increase as well.

Urban Environments
Natural settings such as zoos, parks, and other green spaces can create a good social context for individuals to interact with nature. Having those kinds of natural settings in an urban environment encourages the people to have a relationship with nature and experience those things. There is a positive effect of nature on the human condition, such as relaxation and restoration. People seem to feel relief and enjoyment when they are in the middle of nature taking it all in. Some people obviously do not feel the connection with nature like others. Urban parks are said to play a large role in physical activity of individuals and people utilizing them have reported fewer health issues. Neighborhoods with more greeneries tend to have closer social interactions with people living in them.

Noise
Noise is considered “unwanted sound characterized by intensity, frequency, periodicity, and duration” (Steg, L. 2013, p. 29). Sound is something necessary in a typical life, however sound does not have to be overly loud which then is considered noise. Noise promotes negative feelings, irritation, and annoyance. Noise also has a different meaning for different people, not everyone considers the same amount of sound as noise. More people equal more noise in the world. Some people do not even notice the hustle and bustle noises of living in the city, whereas someone from the country would notice those sounds while visiting a big city. Some psychologists have studied the negative effects of noisy environments. Noise pollution has negative physiological and psychological effects on individuals and in communities. Hearing loss, sleeping disturbances, hypertension, and increased stress are some side effects of noise on individuals. Children are at a higher risk of negative effects when it comes to noise pollution because of their inability to block out noises like adults can.

Strategies to Reduce Noise
Getting rid of noise pollution is not a simple task. There is really no way to avoid the noise all together, however people can learn to adapt to the noise that surrounds them on a daily basis. Planning is one way to reduce the amount of noise a person is exposed to. The person can have earplugs on hand if they know they will be nearby a noisy location, such as a construction site. A person can also be conscious of listening to the radio on a lower volume or they can attend a concert and bring earplugs to block out a bulk of the noise. When it comes to reducing the noise outside of a home, people can install sound proof windows to minimize the sounds coming in. Sound absorbing materials can be placed between people and equipment to protect the people from unwanted noise. Carpeting inside the home will also help to reduce noise, as opposed to having hardwood flooring. Auditory masking can also be used to block out one sound with another sound. It may not be getting rid of the noise, but it will mask it and make it less irritating to the person.

Conclusion
In conclusion, people are affected by many different factors in the environment such as population, noise, and space. Perceptions of territory, privacy, and personal space are directly affected by population density. Interacting with others is dictated by the amount of crowding we are exposed to. The level of noise people are exposed to also affects the way they interact with one another, the way they perceive space, and the way they handle crowding. Through a bigger understanding of the concepts in this paper, individuals can prepare to attack and combat the negative effects things have on their lives.