Speculation on the Mechanism of Interior Space Construction and Emotional Recovery in the Context of Environmental Psychology

Abstract

Environmental psychology has developed the research field of how an indoor environment affects emotions and stress-relief in people. Based on the circumplex model of affect, place attachment theory, biophilic design and neurophysiological approaches to environment-emotion interaction, this paper investigates the connection between the creation of indoor space and emotional recovery. Interior Spaces do not only offer a background for people's lives but also influence their emotions through changes in levels of arousal, valence, perceived control and a sense of belonging. The four reasons for emotional relief through the space are: a decline in physiological arousal; distraction of attention; sense of place belonging; and sensory harmony. Based on research in environmental psychology, it also puts forward design suggestions and offers a speculative system for understanding how interior spaces can be designed to be emotionally nourishing in daily life, healthcare, and work.