Autism and Biophilia: The impact of natural scenes on anxiety

Biophilia是一种假设，即对植物和自然的热爱不是一种后天习得的特征，而是一种在人类进化过程中进化的基于遗传的亲和力（Kellert & Wilson，1993）。我们寻求自然-远足，宠物，室内植物等-因为对外部生命的天生吸引力。经验研究表明，花时间在自然界中，或者甚至在自然的视线内，可以是安抚性的，减少压力的生理指标，促进身体和情感健康（Ulrich等人，1991; Hartig等人，等，2020）。目前很少有研究探索与自闭症有关的亲生物性-一种发育障碍，影响个人如何处理周围的信息以及他们如何与世界互动（世界卫生组织，2020）。孤独症个体的心理健康障碍，特别是焦虑的风险增加（Hollocks等人，2018年）。目前很少有人知道如何或为什么亲生物可能有利于自闭症人群谁可以与城市环境的斗争;与感官的敏感性和挑战是自闭症的特点。虽然有少量的文献调查自闭症与建筑设计，感官室和/或空间，自闭症与自然及其潜在的影响焦虑的更广泛的文献还没有得到广泛的explored.Project aims和objectivesThe建议的学生奖学金的目的是探索如何biophilia可以用来帮助减少自闭症患者的焦虑。这将通过两项实验研究和一项最终应用研究来完成。这两个实验将研究特定类型的自然环境（生物群落）是否是优选的（例如，田地、田地和树木、树木和水等）以及如何'沉浸'的环境需要为生理减少压力发生。这些实验将自闭症样本与非自闭症样本进行比较，并使用虚拟现实来探索完全沉浸式自然体验的替代方式（即在野外或森林中等）。最后的应用研究将使用从两个实验中确定的生物群系和优选模式来试运行一个小型的行为干预研究，探索亲生物性在减少自闭症个体的焦虑和改善健康方面的潜力。确定自闭症和非自闭症个体的首选自然环境（生物群落）以及亲生物性暴露对焦虑的任何积极影响。研究自闭症和非自闭症个体生物群落暴露减少焦虑的最佳方式，包括沉浸式体验。探讨使用个性化的亲生物治疗干预来减少自闭症患者的焦虑和改善其健康状况的可行性。

Biophilia is the hypothesis that a love of plants and nature is not a learned trait, but rather a genetically-based affinity that evolved over the course of human evolution (Kellert & Wilson, 1993). We seek out nature - hikes, pets, house plants, etc. - because of an inborn attraction to external life. Empirical studies suggests that spending time in nature, or even within sight of nature, can be placative, reducing the physiological indicators of stress and facilitating physical and emotional wellbeing (Ulrich et al., 1991; Hartig et al., 2003; Yin, J. et al, 2020). There is currently very little research exploring biophilia in relation to autism - a developmental disability impacting how an individual processes the information around them and how they interact with the world (World Health Organisation, 2020). Autistic individuals are at increased risk of mental health disorders, particularly anxiety (Hollocks et al., 2018). Little is currently known about how or why biophilia may benefit the autistic population who can struggle with urban environments; with sensory sensitivities and challenges being characteristic of an autistic profile. While there is a small amount of literature investigating autism in relation to building design, sensory rooms and/or spaces, the wider literature of autism in relation to nature and its potential to impact anxiety has not been extensively explored.Project aims and objectivesThe aim of the proposed studentship is to explore how biophilia can be used to help reduce anxiety for people with autism. This will be done through two experimental studies and a final applied study. The two experiments will look at whether a particular type of natural environment (biome) is preferred (e.g., fields, fields & trees, trees & water, etc.) and how 'immersive' the environment needs to be for the physiological reductions in stress to occur. The experiments will compare an autistic sample to a non-autistic sample and use virtual reality to explore alternative modalities to a fully immersive natural experience (i.e. being outside in a field or forest, etc.). A final applied study will use the identified biomes and preferred modalities from the two experiments to trial run a small behavioural intervention study exploring the potential of biophilia to reduce anxiety and improve wellbeing in autistic individuals.The study objectives are:1. To identify preferred natural environments (biomes) of autistic and non-autistic individuals and any positive effect of biophilic exposure on anxiety.2. To investigate the optimal modality for biome exposure for reducing anxiety, including immersivity of experience, in autistic and non-autistic individuals.3. To explore the feasibility of a using an individualised biophilic therapy intervention to reduce anxiety and improve wellbeing in autistic individuals.