Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

Louise Penny has noted that Quebec, the setting of her novels, operates almost as a character in its own right. This observation is more than literary flair; it reflects a psychological truth. Environments exert influence. They shape perception, emotion, and behavior. In social psychology, we recognize that human functioning is inseparable from context. Our interactions with others affect our mood, cognition, motivation, and even our physiological health. This is why social context is a core dimension of the SCOPES framework. Yet physical environments — even in the absence of people — also exert measurable effects. Consider how interior spaces communicate safety, warmth, or threat. A familiar chair can regulate stress; a poorly designed one can amplify discomfort. Sensory cues such as scent, sound, and texture influence our emotional states in subtle but powerful ways. Outdoor environments operate similarly. Natural settings often promote restoration, while harsh or polluted environmen...

  A Circle of Well-Being Gratitude and Joy One of the beautiful holiday connections in the United States is the Thanksgiving to Christmas festivities. Just after Thanksgiving, I noticed that a former student posted a photo of an ultrasound. She and her husband had smiles as they hugged. She posted her Spring due date. Great Expectations! We know a lot about gratitude. Saying thanks, writing gratitude letters, and keeping a gratitude journal are annual reminders of things we can do to promote our wellbeing and make the world a nicer place. That’s Thanksgiving. But psychologists have also begun the study of joy, which until recently has been hidden amongst a sea of happiness research. Enter Philip Watkins and his colleagues who find evidence that sets joy apart from other good feelings. Psychologists link the emotion of joy to good news. It’s not just any good news but something we long for—something we look forward to, hope for, and expect. Moreover, joy is not like getting ...

  In the past few decades, psychological scientists have studied gratitude along with other virtues as part of the broad field known as positive psychology, which focuses on well-being in contrast to studies of mental disorders. Expressing gratitude is one of those classic virtues encouraged in many cultures. Short Summary Two psychological scientists studied the effects of expressing gratitude over a period of 10 weeks. Those in the gratitude group felt better and had fewer health symptoms than those in other groups. The Experiment In 2003, two psychological scientists published the results of several studies. Robert Emmons of the University of California, Davis and Michael McCullough of the University of Miami assigned volunteers to one of three groups, which the research team called Gratitude, Hassles, and Events. The study required 10 weekly reports. Here’s what the scientists told each group. Gratitude group The gratitude group were asked to think about their past week...