THERAPEUTIC IMPACT OF

NATURE
ENGLISH PROJECT

RASHNEET KAUR
XII MED
42
 INDEX

Sr. Topic Page No.

No.

1 Certificate 1

2 Introduction 2

3 Questionnaire 3-7

4 Report 8-15

5 Bibliography 16
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Rashneet
Kaur of class 12 has successfully
completed the project on
Therapeutic Impact of Nature for
class 12 practical examination of
CBSE year 2021-22

Signature:
 Introduction
Nature therapy, which is also called
ecotherapy, is based on the concept of using
nature to help us heal, especially
psychologically. Instead of spending time
enjoying and benefiting from the natural
environment, we are spending more and more
time on screens and online.
 QUESTIONNAIRE

Participants:

1. Prakhar
2. Tanvi
3. Garima
4. Kishnoor
5. Namisha
Question 1: What does nature mean to you ?

Answer: The physical world and everything in it such as plants, animals , mountains ,
oceans , stars, etc.

Question 2: How important is nature to you ?

Answer: It is very important not only for me but for everyone.

Question 3: So what is the reason for its importance ?

Answer: Since everything indispensable things such as food , water , oxygen etc. is
provided by it only.

Question: 4 How do you take care of your health ?

Answer:

3rd Qtr
30%

50% of people go to parks 1st Qtr

50%
30% prefers gym
20% none

2nd Qtr
20%

Question 5: If you are a nature lover , how can you enjoy nature ?

Answer: Nature is where we belong to and I try to do take all steps to nurture nature for
a better future. Enjoying nature is fun and I spend infinity of time looking at how
beautifully things are around us.

Question 6: Can u contrast the nature of your childhood time and nature at present time
?

Answer: During my childhood time nature was much plant , air was fresh but today’s
nature is harmed to a great extent due to the bad activities of the people.

Question 7: Do you feel stressfree when you are in contact of nature?

Answer:

20%

80% says yes

20% says no

80%
Question 8: What bad things people are doing to nature ?

Answer: In today’s time people are harming the nature through deforestation , polluting
water , air etc.

Question 9: So what should we do to protect the nature ?

Answer: Some measures like people should reduce the cutting of trees , reduce ,reuse
and recycle and much more measures can we taken.

Question 10: What are you doing on your personal level to protect our environment
from pollution ?

Answer: A lot of things .... I and my family try to buy environmentally friendly goods
whenever we can and finally , I try to save trees... I print on both sides of every sheet of
paper I use and use my left over white space to jot down notes.

Question 11: According to you what does nature comprises ?

Answer: Nature comprises of everything we see around. It comprises of living plants

and animals , geological processes, weather and physics etc.

Question 12: What would life be like without nature ?

Answer: I can’t imagine living without access to it since every life process depend on
nature only.

Question 13: So what is the essential thing provided by nature for the survival of
humans ?

Answer: Oxygen which is provided by plants is very much important for humans .

Question 14: Are you aware of importance of nature and it’s condition now a days?

Answer:

42%

58% Yes
42% No

58%

Question 15: What things do you think about when you heard the word ‘nature’ ?

Answer: Nature is everything for me , my friend , my mentor , my guide and my

inspiration . Nature shows me the meaning of beauty , love , happiness , joy , wonder ,
hope etc.
Question 16: So what does nature teaches you ?

Answer: Nature teaches me that there is no difference between a human mother’s

affection and a tigress’s affection towards her clubs/child . It teaches me how to
honour every element of creation and I will always try my best to live in harmony with
the nature .

Question 17: If you are a nature lover , how can you enjoy the nature ?

Answer: Nature is where we belong to , and I enjoy the nature by visiting parks ,
garden daily , watering plants.

Question 18: Why is Earth called Mother Earth ?

Answer: The Earth functions as mother to all, the different forms of live for non living ,
living that exist with their sole. The Earth has the same relation as a Mother has to a
child born from her . So we called her “ The Mother Earth”.

Question 19: What do you learn from nature ?

Answer: Nature is not only teaches us to be fresh but also teaches us “Time
Management” . As the nature starts to wilt its leaves . But as spring arises the new
colour and awesome nature is in front of us.

Question 20: Do you know the abbreviation of the word “ Nature” ?

Answer: N= No pollution
A=Attitude and Active
T =Togetherness
U = Ultimate
R= Rocking
E= Enthusiasm

Question 21: In 100 years from now , how different do you think the natural world will
be ?

Answer: In 100 years, the world's population will probably be around 10 – 12 billion
people, the rainforests will be largely cleared and the world would not be or look
peaceful. We would have a shortage of resources such as water, food and habitation
which would lead to conflicts and wars.

Question 22: What measure should be taken to avoid the above problems to be faced
in future ?

Answer: Sustainable development approach should be taken into the effect .

Sustainable development is defined as an approach to developing or growing by using
resources in a way that allows for them to renew or continue to exist for others. Using
recycled materials or renewable resources when building is an example of sustainable
development.

Question 23: If plants provide oxygen then how these plants are survived ?

Answer: For survival of plants they need carbon dioxide gas which is released by
human as a by product . So in this way by product is the essential requirement for
another.

Question 24: Where is the nature at its most beautiful – the mountains , oceans ,
deserts , beaches , space or forests ?

Answer: According to me all these places are individually best on their places.
Question 25: Why do you think so ?

Answer: Since mountains are beautiful for the scenery , oceans are beautiful ,
refreshing , Forests for greenery etc.

Question 26: How does being in nature make you feel ?

Answer: For me nature reduces anger , fear and stress and increases pleasant
feelings.

Question 27: How important is nature in your culture ?

Answer: Nature is very much important in my culture . We treat various plants such as
peepal , tulsi etc. as god and goddess.

Question 28: What is nature according to you ?

Answer: Nature is all the animals, plants, and other things in the world that are not
made by people and all the events and processes that are not caused by people.

Question 29: Do you think Pollution is a big problem nowadays ?

Answer: Yes , Definitely. Air and Water pollution have huge issues in the modern
world. The air pollution is especially serious due to the increasing amount of exhaust
fumes, which are produced by cars , and result into a poor air quality.

Question 30: What do you to prevent our environment from pollution ?

Answer: I don’t throw garbage here and there , use friendly goods , participate in
awareness programmes organized to make people aware about the measures to be
taken to reduce pollution etc.

Question 31: So how much do you participate in awareness programmes and is any
other environmental events in which you participate ?

Answer: Frequently I participate in these awareness programmes and additionally I

participated in an event in my hometown , which was all about preserving nature.

Question 32: What is your favourite season ?

Question: Autumn is absolutely my most favourite season . The cool weather makes
me feel so comfortable because humidity is low.
 REPORT

Nature heals. Just a walk in the woods or a stroll by the beach

on a sunny morning can awaken the innermost feelings of
happiness and peace, and Environmental Psychology has gone
a long way proving this fact (Bell, Greene, Fisher, & Baum,
1996). Our affinity toward nature is genetic and deep-rooted
in evolution. For example, have you ever wondered why most
people prefer to book accommodations that have a great view
from the balcony or the terrace? Why patients who get a
natural view from their hospital bed recover sooner than
others? Or why does it happen that when stress takes a toll on
our mind, we crave for time to figure out things amidst
nature? Frank Lloyd Wright had said, “Study Nature, love
Nature, stay close to Nature. It will never fail you.” This article
investigates the human-nature relationship in detail. Why we
feel so empowered when we are close to Nature? What
happens to us when the soft breeze or the warm sun touch
us? With research-backed evidence and useful environment-
support hacks, this piece explores and acknowledges the
sheer boon of the ‘Nature Contact’.

Author Richard Louv mentioned ‘Nature-Deficit Disorder’ in

his famous book ‘Last Child In The Woods.’ According to Louv,
nature-deficit disorder is not the presence of an anomaly in
the brain; it is the loss of connection of humans to their
natural environment. Staying close to nature improves
physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. It makes us feel alive
from the inside, and we should not compromise it for recent
developments like urbanization, technology, or social media
Nature impacts health

• Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, as they call it in Japan, is a

famous way of spending time in nature. Research has shown
that people who practice forest bathing have optimum
nervous system functions, well-balanced heart conditions, and
reduced bowel disorders.

• Outdoor activities reduce the chances of developing eyesight

problems like hypermetropia and myopia. A survey conducted
on children in Australia revealed that school-aged kids who
participated in outdoor activities had better vision than kids
who spent more time indoors (Rose, Morgan, & Kifley, 2008).

• Studies have related nature connections to lower BMI.

People who exercise outdoors are less fatigued and have
fewer chances of suffering from obesity and related
conditions.

• The Forest Bathing research also suggested that by

stimulating the production of anticancer proteins, frequent
walks or trips into the wilderness help patients in fighting
terminal diseases. Although this is ongoing research and
firmer evidence are awaited, this suggestion is strong enough
to prove the benefits of being outdoors.
Nature has a deep-rooted meaning in psychology that encompasses
the core components of our existence, including our genes. The
popular naturenurture concept in developmental psychology explores
all the variables that shape and influence the relationship that our
internal (personality traits and genetic factors) and external worlds
(physical environment that we live in) share.

1. Stress and nature A large-scale experiment conducted on 120

subjects ascertained the ‘nature-connection’ in stress reduction and
coping. Each participant observed visuals of either a natural
landscape or an urban environment. The data obtained from this
survey revealed that participants who looked at the picture of
natural setting had low scores on stress scales and had better
heartbeat and pulse counts. Furthermore, investigators also found
that the stress recovery rate was much higher in participants who
got a natural exposure than the ones who saw urbanized
ambiances. The flow of this study strongly indicated the role nature
plays in improving our general mental health conditions including
stress (Ulrich et al., 1991).

2. 2. Nature for building attention The fact that staying close to

nature improves focus and attention span, was suggested in the
Attention Restoration Theory by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan (1989).
The theory explains why staying close to nature reenergizes us and
reduces fatigue. Encounters with any aspect of the natural
environment – sunset, beach, clouds, or forests grab our positive
attention without us paying much effort to it, and the whole
process restores the life energy that negative emotions had taken
away from us.
 3. Climate crisis and denial An
immensely significant example of nature
in human psychology is the research on
climate crisis or climate change. Climate
crisis and global warming are
international concerns today, and some
psychologists argue that the impact of
climate change is so vast and
unimaginable, that we often choose not
to respond to it. Nevertheless, the effect
of climate change on human psychology
and
mental health is wellestablished now. Studies show that climate
change over the years has had a dramatic impact on the way we
think, behave, decide, and execute plans (Lorenzoni, Pidgeon, &
O’Connor, 2005). The Australian Psychological Society has provided
some mind-boggling figures. At the time of writing, they estimate 5-
8% of the population across the US, UK, and Australia denies that
climate change is happening, while 97% of climate scientists accept
the fact and are concerned about it. However small the denial rate
may seem, researchers suggest that it is enough to create a judgment
gap that may cause people to doubt their contribution behind the
climatic adversities. No matter which direction the judgment travels,
it is undeniable that climate crisis has and will continue to impact
human minds in some way or the other.

4. Psychology, values, and nature An experiment conducted on the

landowners on Pennsylvania disclosed that staying close to nature
adds a sense of value toward the self, others, and toward Mother
Nature. It builds connectivity and lets the way for gratitude and
appreciation. Results showed that respondents who had higher
connectivity with nature and spent more time outdoors were more
environmentally responsible, concerned, and happier in their
interpersonal relationships (Dutcher, Finley, Luloff, & Johnson, 2007).
The Human-Nature Relationship And Health
The research paper on ‘Human-Nature Relationship And Its Impact
On Health: A Critical Review’ explores all the aspects of the
interconnection we have with nature and how it affects our general
health and wellbeing. Author Valentine Seymour (2016) defined our
relationship with nature in close association with Darwinian principles
of Evolutionary psychology. The study explained concepts of
evolutionary biology, social economics, psychology, and
environmentalism and scouts how the interplay of all these influence
human health. The interdisciplinary research model suggests that:

• Staying close to nature improves physical conditions like

hypertension, cardiac illness, and chronic pain.

• A strong connection to the natural environment enhances

emotional wellbeing and alleviates feelings of social isolation. Besides,
it also helps individuals suffering from mental health conditions like
attention disorders, mood disorders, and different forms of anxiety.

• Nature-friendly people are more environmentally conscious and

responsible. They have a rational sense of using their physical space
and are more proactive to enact on issues that might help in
sustaining the environment they live in.
The Attention Restoration Theory (ART) was proposed by Rachel Kaplan
and Stephen Kaplan (1989) and reflected upon the gospel that staying
close to the natural environment builds focus. The proponents of the
theory first mentioned about this in their book ‘The experience of nature:
A psychological perspective’ where they discussed how effortlessly
witnessing natural phenomena like watching the leaves move, or the
clouds float, make us more observant and attentive. They identified two
types of attention:

1. Voluntary attention – where we willingly focus on something and spend

our mental energy fully into internalizing the experience.

2. Involuntary attention – where we unknowingly pay attention to

something and get invested into that
The ART suggests that any attention can be built and redeemed
through exposure to natural settings. By establishing a strong
connection to nature, we can stay away from everyday stressors,
experience positivity and joy, regain intrinsic motivation, and become
more aware of our sensory stimulations (Berman, Jonides, & Kaplan,
2008; Kaplan, 1995). The theory indicates that nature has some ‘soft
fascinations’ that help in restoring attention when we get distracted or
mentally tied down. The soft fascinations are nothing but soothing
natural elements (for example flowers, breeze, or gentle sunshine) that
we all love to be close to. When we stay close to these pleasant
aspects of nature, we do not have to put any effort into attending to it;
we effortlessly immerse ourselves into the experience. They bring
feelings of pleasure and contentment, which is why people who spend
more time in nature are more intuitive, energetic, and consciously
attentive (Fuller, Irvine, Devine-Wright, Warren, & Gaston, 2007;
Keniger, Gaston, Irvine, & Fuller, 2013). Several studies and large-scale
surveys had been conducted to validate the theory and is still an
intriguing area of research for environmentalists (Ohly et al., 2016).
 BIBILOGRAPHY
• www.google.com
• www.youtube.com
• www.positivepsychology.com
• www.wikipedia.com
• www.researchgate.net
• www.healthline.com