Autism and Biophilia: The impact of natural scenes on anxiety

生物亲和性是一种假设，即对植物和自然的热爱不是一种后天习得的特征，而是一种基于基因的亲和力，这种亲和力是在人类进化过程中进化出来的(Kellert&Wilson，1993)。我们寻找大自然--徒步旅行、宠物、室内植物等等--因为我们天生就对外部生命有吸引力。经验研究表明，在大自然中度过一段时间，甚至在大自然的视线内度过，可以起到安抚作用，减少压力的生理指标，促进身心健康(Ulrich等人，1991；Hartig等人，2003；Yen，J.等人，2020)。目前很少有研究探讨与自闭症有关的亲生物症--一种影响个人如何处理周围信息以及如何与世界互动的发育障碍(世界卫生组织，2020年)。自闭症患者患心理健康障碍的风险增加，特别是焦虑(Hollock等人，2018年)。目前，对于亲生物症如何或为什么会使能够与城市环境作斗争的自闭症人群受益，人们知之甚少；自闭症患者的特征是感官敏感性和挑战。虽然有少量文献研究与建筑设计、感觉室和/或空间有关的自闭症，但与自然有关的更广泛的自闭症文献及其对焦虑的影响还没有得到广泛的探索。项目的目的和目标拟议的学生身份的目的是探索如何利用亲生物症来帮助自闭症患者减少焦虑。这将通过两项实验研究和最后一项应用研究来完成。这两个实验将考察特定类型的自然环境(生物群)是否更受欢迎(例如，田野、田野和树木、树木和水等)。以及要想在生理上减轻压力，环境需要有多“身临其境”。这些实验将对自闭症样本和非自闭症样本进行比较，并使用虚拟现实来探索完全身临其境的自然体验的替代模式(即在田野或森林等户外)。最后一项应用研究将使用两个实验中确定的生物群和首选模式来试运行一项小型行为干预研究，探索生物亲和性是否有可能减少自闭症患者的焦虑和改善其幸福感。研究目标是：1.确定自闭症和非自闭症患者的首选自然环境(生物群落)，以及接触生物亲和性对焦虑的任何积极影响。研究自闭症患者和非自闭症患者的生物群暴露降低焦虑的最佳方式，包括体验的沉浸性。探索使用个性化亲生治疗干预措施来减少自闭症患者的焦虑和改善其幸福感的可行性。

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.