Berg, A.E. & M. ter Heijne, 2005, Fear versus fascination: an exploration of emotional reponses to natural threats, in: Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25, 3
- Author : Berg, A.E. & M. ter Heijne
- Year : 2005
- Journal/Series : Journal of Environmental Psychology
- Volume Number (ANNUAL: Counting Volumes of the Year shown above) : 3
- Volume Number (CONSECUTIVE: Counting all Volumes of this Journal ever published) : 25
- Pages : 261-272
- Abstract in English : This article describes two studies examined people emotional responses to threatening encounters with nature. The central aim in the present research was to gain more insight into people’s emotional responses to natural threats. The authors review previous research on fear of nature. Next they discuss the evidence for positive reactions to natural threats, and consider the potential relevance of gender and sensation seeking to understanding individual differences in negative versus positive responses to natural threats. Finally two empirical studies that examined people’s emotional responses to natural threats in the Netherlands. The findings suggest that fear plays an important, but ambivalent role in modern human’s interactions with nature. Instead of going to extremes to control nature, we better find ways to control our fear and transform it into a positive experience.
- Comments/Notes : KEYWORDS: fear, nature, natural threats, environmental psychology, emotions.