The Psychology Behind Homes: How Physical Environment Affects the Self
McCarthy Homes 344 Bilsen Road, Geebung QLD 4034 (07) 3326 6600
Home ownership remains the greatest dream for Aussies everywhere. Many believe that a home is the concrete and most compelling proof of their success in life. For some, a home also serves as a sign of financial security. But, environmental psychologists and several studies say that a home is not just a physical representation of achievement or stability. A home is actually an extension of oneself. It plays a crucial role in strengthening identity, building public image, facilitating thought and feeling expression, and inducing memory.
Establishing Identity Experts say that people use their homes to represent themselves, creating clear and intentional statements of their self. Homes serve to reflect attitudes, life goals, beliefs, responsibilities and priorities. People take time designing and decorating their houses to reveal themselves to other people. This can be observed in the way people invest time and energy designing and decorating houses. Psychologists say that people fill their houses with “cultural iconography�, such as photos, books or art pieces to assert their identity and the things that matter to them. Enabling Expression of Thoughts and Feelings Homes also serve as an avenue for expression of thoughts and feelings. People deliberately design their houses to make them think about certain things and feel a certain way. For instance, in the living room, where most family interactions happen, people place family portraits or souvenirs from family vacations to reflect a welcoming vibe. In the bedroom, where romance and comfort is expected, they deliberately pick out colour schemes that promote these expectations. Psychologists explain that as priorities and family dynamics shift, what people want in their spaces change as well.
Prompting Memory A home also causes memory cues. According to psychologists, when people go to a place they used to live in, the physical environment prompts them to put on the version of themselves when they lived there. Experts explain that the brain makes connections to the physical environment; the more connections it forms, the more likely the person remembers. Homes are an extension of the self. It goes beyond mere architectural structure; it helps represent changes and choices significant in people’s lives.
RESOURCES: http://www.mccarthyhomes.com.au/ http://freshome.com/2007/04/17/room-color-and-how-it-affects-yourmood/ http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:227006/FULLTEXT02 http://faculty.arch.utah.edu/benham/group%203/Place-Identity.pdf