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European Journal of Wood and Wood Products

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11-05-2018 | Original

New insights into the psychological dimension of wood–human interaction

Authors: M. Luisa Demattè, Gesualdo M. Zucco, Sergio Roncato, Paola Gatto, Elena Paulon, Raffaele Cavalli, Michela Zanetti

Published in: European Journal of Wood and Wood Products | Issue 4/2018

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Abstract

The effect a wooden-built environment exerts on the physical and psychological well-being of people has mostly been investigated by evaluation, through a limited number of sensory modalities, of small size stimuli. In this research, two real-size wooden and plaster indoor settings were used to examine the influence of wood on people’s emotions and perceptions. Three questionnaires assessed participants’ multimodal sensory, affective, and cognitive responses to the settings (Semantic Differential questionnaire), their emotional state (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule), and their environmental behaviour and biophilia degree (Nature Relatedness Scale). The results revealed that wood induces more positive emotions than plaster, and that individual biophilia degree appears to influence the tactile, auditory, and olfactory evaluation of the settings. It furthermore indicates how wood used in real buildings positively influences human psychological well-being and highlights the importance of considering multiple sensory modalities when investigating wood–human interaction.

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Title: New insights into the psychological dimension of wood–human interaction
Authors: M. Luisa Demattè
Gesualdo M. Zucco
Sergio Roncato
Paola Gatto
Elena Paulon
Raffaele Cavalli
Michela Zanetti
Publication date: 11-05-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Wood and Wood Products / Issue 4/2018
Print ISSN: 0018-3768
Electronic ISSN: 1436-736X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-018-1315-y

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