Natural environment that cures: basic psychological mechanisms of animal and plant therapies

Abstract

The modern results of the environmental psychology – which is a new field of the psychology –, strongly call attention to the fact that people living in a modern and artificial environment have a strong motivation for keeping direct and multi-level relation with the natural environment. Main tasks of the environmental and health psychology are to understand the effects of the components of natural environment (e.g., animals, plants) on the human psychological functions, discover the mediators and interactions between them, and build these mechanisms to therapeutic and preventive work. Therefore, recently became obvious that humans need restoring the natural connections with nature (flora, fauna). In this paper two possible ways of it are reviewed: animal therapy and plant therapy. Animals symbolize a kind of ancient force and plants mean symbolically the permanent development. One type of improving activities with participation of animals is the Animal Assisted Activity (AAA) which is can be performed by experts or non-professionals with help of animals. The main goal of this kind of program is to improve the quality of life of participants (first of all healthy people): It means refreshing, educational and therapeutic activity equally. The other type of animal therapy is the Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) which is a goal-oriented practice. In this routine the presence and/or activity of animals (horse, dog, dolphin, aquarium fishes, etc.) is a part of the therapeutic process. The purpose of these activities is to improve the physical, emotional, cognitive and social functions of the patients. Target groups of AAT can be health, damaged, deficient and/or injured adults or children who receive preventive, curing and rehabilitative treatment. Two action-fields of plant therapy are known. One is visiting green places (gardens, parks) which has preventive, curing and rehabilitative effects. First of all mentally-tired and stressed people apply for this possibility, but it also can be a part of an everyday mentalhygienic program. The other way of application of the plant therapy is the aroma-therapy which serves for medical purposes. Nowadays, the aroma-therapy is also a device of improving life-quality, for instance people like to use herbs for natural stimulation and making merry mood.