Modern Malaysian-Based Students Perceive Southeast Asian Jungle Environments as Places of High Risk and Discomfort

Abstract

Abstract

While the interaction between people and their environments has long been a focus of psychological research, there is need for more understanding of how non-Westerners relate to natural and urban environments, including areas of dense jungle. For this study we conducted focus group discussions with 19 individuals from the urban Southeast Asian city of Kuala Lumpur and 19 individuals from the rural Malaysian state of Terengganu centered on their experiences of both urban and natural environments. Three themes relating to the natural and urban settings' potential to promote a sense of restoration emerged, namely: “risk perception,” “comfort,” and “place attachment.” While individual preferences varied, participants from both settings described a strong sense of dependence on the conveniences of the modern world. Elements from within each environment, sociocultural factors, and the temporal dimension seemed important for determining whether the environment was considered restorative. In this regard, these participants' views of the natural environment seem broadly analogous to those of people living in major Western metropolises such as Chicago, New York City, or London. A new nonlinear approach to understanding restoration in tropical environments is proposed. Key Words: Urban environments—Natural environments—Preference—Restoration—Place attachment—Risk perception—Comfort.