ANN ARBOR,Mich.—People are far more likely to be satisfied with their lives when their environment supports three basic needs: the ability to understand and explore, to feel they make a difference, and to feel competent and effective, according to two University of Michigan environmental psychology researchers writing in the September issue of American Journal of Public Health.

The three needs—far more important to people than acquiring wealth, control or power—apply to a wide range of contexts, including both the natural and built environment, home and work, and even the social environment.

Professors Stephen Kaplan and Rachel Kaplan have psychology appointments at U-M. He is also a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and she is the Samuel T. Dana Professor of Environment and Behavior in the School of Natural Resources and Environment.

Since the 1960s, they have collaborated in their research on the role of environmental factors in human well-being. The Kaplans, who are married, have provided guidance for planners and environmental designers on ways to make communities and work places more satisfying and more conducive to mental health. For example, their research has shown that a nature view at work can substantially increase energy and enthusiasm.

“People get very upset when they can?t figure out what?s going on around them. They would rather explore and find out things on their own than be told, and they hate to be lied to,” Stephen Kaplan said. “They also need to be able to use their abilities to do something worthwhile and that brings respect. Terrorists provide an example of individuals who, finding they cannot achieve these things in a socially constructive framework, are attracted to destructive means of finding understanding and meaning. People also need to feel competent and effective; contact with nature has been repeatedly demonstrated to have this effect.”

Rachel Kaplan added: “The belief that money brings satisfaction, although popular in our materialistic society, is not supported by research. The emphasis on avoiding greed, characteristic of many religions and cultures, turns out to be well founded.”

The Kaplans point to the importance of supportive environments in dealing with several key urban design issues:

Crime prevention. Enhancing safety encourages people to explore their surroundings. Exploration, however, requires comfort. The fear of being lost arises as a major concern in many different environments from hospitals to downtowns.

Transportation. An attractive and legible environment can also reduce reliance on motorized transportation and increase people?s knowledge of and attachment to the local environment. They cite an Ontario Walkability Study showing most children would rather walk to school and explore their surroundings than be driven.

Community. Tree-lined sidewalks and functionally useful destinations (including shops, parks or a library) not only improve physical health by encouraging walking but can also promote a sense of community, helping reduce crime and increasing social interaction.