Views of nature and self-discipline: Evidence from inner city children
Access to nature nurtures self-discipline
Citing the connection between a variety of behavioral issues and self-discipline, and the relationship between self-discipline and directed attention, Faber Taylor, Kuo and Sullivan examined the relationship between near-home nature and three forms of self-discipline (concentration, impulse control and delay of gratification) in 169 inner city girls and boys randomly assigned to 12 architecturally identical high-rise buildings with varying levels of nearby nature. The more natural a girl’s view from home, the better her performance was at each of the forms of self-discipline. The authors suggest that the difference between boys and girls may be attributable to girls’ tendency to play closer to home than boys. For boys, perhaps more distant green spaces would offer the benefits for self-discipline that near-home nature does for girls.
Citation
Faber Taylor, A., Kuo, F. E., Sullivan, W. C., (2002). Views of nature and self-discipline: Evidence from inner city children. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 22,
