Environment and Human Behaviour

The following points highlight the influence of environment on human behaviour.

1. Effect of Natural Calamities on Human Behaviour:

An organism’s environment vastly influences human behaviour. It has constructive as well as destructive effects on human behaviour.

As we turn the pages of human history of thousand and thousand years back it becomes clear how human beings throughout the world are threatened, scared and affected by floods, earthquakes, wind storms, cyclones and super cyclones, droughts, tornadoes and many other natural calamities.

Of late, technological and industrial advances have doubled the threats from the environment. Even in scientifically and economically advanced countries and super powers like USA the governments have not been able to check the repeated occurrences of TORNADOES.

Some months back, lakhs and lakhs of people in USA were evacuated because of the threat of Hurricane and RITA. Several innocent persons lost their lives in the process and many lost their homes and property also.

People throughout the world were psychologically hurt. They expressed their condolences to the affected people and helped them financially. So was the case of Tsunami, the horrible memory of which is still fresh in our mind. Thus it is clear that threats from the environment cause physical harm to mankind who are surrounded by it, produce severe anxiety and stress at the psychological level.

After the super cyclone in Orissa in 1999 it was found that many people who were directly affected by it became mentally ill. They showed indications of stress, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness and some even showed psychotic symptoms.

They lost their family members, near and dear ones, property, belongings and, in a nutshell, everything except their half dead bodies. Many of them became orphans and lost the hope in life.

Though these disasters and calamities are natural and man does not have any control over them, steps are being taken in terms of research among friendly countries to prevent and avoid these calamities through scientific researches.

Even though prevention in case of many natural calamities is not possible because they occur all of a sudden and man mostly does not have control over them, steps are being taken by authorities in advance to meet the crisis through construction of rest and shades, and buildings at high places in Hood affected areas, dams to preserve water, cyclone centres for rescue operations ahead of the calamity.

Many other preventive measures including research to avoid Hood, famine. Tornadoes etc. arc being taken to save man from the clutches of natural calamities coming from the physical environment.

2. Effect of Atmospheric Conditions on Human Behaviour:

(i) Temperature:   

As fish lives in water so we live in air. Atmospheric condition is one of the important aspects of physical environment. Air is very important for any life to exist and continue. The air which we breathe should not only be fresh and pollution free, the air which surrounds us should also be fresh and free of pollution.

When several individuals stay or move together they exhale poisonous gas and the air becomes polluted and unhealthy for them. It also raises temperature and moisture content leading to rise in humidity.

When carbon dioxide exceeds a certain limit in the air, care should be taken to check it. Rise in temperature influences our body temperature which should be kept at a judicious level. We also know that very high or very low temperature adversely influences, our work and performance.

That is why during extreme summer and winter our work capacity goes down. Particularly, manual work is greatly affected by very high and very low temperature. Of course people gradually get adjusted to this. But the temperature should be kept at a judicious level and comfort zone so that the human body can be able tolerate it without any effort and do its normal day-to-day work.

It is also seen that accidents suddenly rise alarmingly when the temperature becomes very high or very low. Vernon, Bed Ford and Warner have found different zones for different types of work. For average secondary work, the zone is 67° to 69°F, for light and active work, it is 62° to 65°F, for heavy active work the zone is 55°-60°F and for heavy manual work it is 50°F with air movement.

Vernon, Bed Ford and Warner studying temperature and air velocities in various pits in mines found that mine workers working in high temperature experienced 65 per cent more sickness than those working at lower temperatures.

Meek Worth views that whether a skill, manual or mental goes on decreasing with 80°F. 85°F is the critical point where there is a sharp drop in performance. He further found that the accident rate also rose alarmingly when temperature went below 52°F and above 67°F.

These studies were conducted in western countries in cold climates. But this range will vary under Indian climatic conditions, where people are habituated to hot climate.

A judicious atmospheric condition also improves the attitude and morale of people towards the environment. They consider it friendly. The problem of moisture content in air also affects human behaviour and performance.

Though it does not affect mental work to a high degree, it, nevertheless, indirectly shows its effects by influencing the mood and attitude of the people. Though the behaviour of manual workers is more affected by atmospheric conditions mental workers are also affected, may be to a lesser degree.

(ii) Movement of air:

When there is no movement in air most of the troubles of ventilation arise. Movement of air prevents the formation of packets of warm and moist air and also prevents stagnant air from accumulating about the body or around the place surrounding him.

Various studies show that movement of air improves performance and gives a pleasant, comfortable feeling to the person without which the person is irritated and his output is affected.

Sometimes signs of psychotic behaviour is found. Lack of movement of air, high temperature and humidity also bring physiological and psychological changes in behaviour in metal mine workers as a study conducted by Sayers and Horingten shows.

The physiological and behavioural changes found in the workers included rapid pulse rate, marked loss of weight accompanied by physical weakness and exhaustion. They also felt difficulty in carrying mental work.

But when movement in air was made by the help of fans, these troubles disappeared. This indicates that movement in air has always a cooling effect on human behaviour and performance. Heat emitted by the body is always removed by movement in air. But when the air is stagnant this is not possible. This is why, when the air is stagnant, the temperature becomes more uncomfortable.

A study conducted by the New York ventilation commission showed that fall in output was nine per cent when the air was stagnant. Thus ventilation or movement of air is essential as it has favourable impact on human behaviour. The ventilating system should be able to filter air to avoid air pollution.

Research findings on atmospheric conditions indicate that it is one of the important aspects of physical environment. Adverse atmosphere is injurious to physical and mental health.

It gives rise to headache, drowsiness and a general feeling of discomfort, decrease output and performance level, increases sickness, absenteeism, turnover and accidents. Lastly, it influences attitude and has got far reaching consequences on all types of workers. 

Air Pollution:

Due to speedy urbanisation, modernisation and industrialization for the last few decades throughout the globe, the quality and freshness of air has deteriorated to a great extent. Air which is vital and a basic necessity for human beings, animal and plant life is getting polluted day-by-day.

Particularly due to the increase in the emissions of huge amount of toxic, dangerous and harmful gases like Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Sulphur dioxide etc. to the air, the air is getting polluted.

When we breathe this type of polluted air we suffer from various physical and psychosomatic disorders. Inhaling of carbon monoxide mixed with the air, prevents the various organs of the body including brain and heart to absorb sufficient oxygen from the air. As a result serious health problems are created.

Experts believe that cancer, asthma, T.B. and various other respiratory diseases are caused by pollution. It is held that air pollution is responsible to an extent for low visibility, irritation of eye, insomnia or sleeplessness, fatigue, headache, allergy and various respiratory diseases.

It is also observed that people are more depressed and irritated during cloudy, rainy, humid and very hot days. It has also been observed world-wide that various types of psychological problems increase due to air pollution.

Most industrial areas emit poisonous gas which is mixed with the natural air. The inhabitants of that area, inhale this polluted air and suffer from various diseases. This has produced great concern among the citizens world-wide.

Data of various Environmental Pollution Boards and health centres of the world indicate that deaths due to air pollution are on the rise. Particularly, the data produced by the Environmental Protection Agency and Harvard School of Public Health point out that about 50,000 to 60,000 deaths occur every year in United States due to emission from diesel engines only.

If air pollution from other sources is taken into consideration the number will be sky high. In India with the rapid urbanisation and industrialisation the incidence of respiratory disease is very high. The main victims are children and older people with respiratory diseases. Today, in India Metropolitan Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata etc are subjected to heavy air pollution.

Recently the level of air pollution in Delhi has reduced by about 15 per cent after the buses having diesel engines have been replaced by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) based engines. So air pollution can also be reduced by reducing the harmful effects of Diesel engine exhausts.

Bad smell of polluted air also produces psychologically negative and unpleasant feeling. Conversely, the air that has pleasant smell produces positive feeling and friendly attitude. Though initially people have a negative feeling towards air pollution, gradually they get used to it and rarely complain. This is a highly dangerous tendency.

Since after sometime they rarely give importance to it, it becomes a silent killer and affects. Therefore now steps are being taken by different states and industries to avoid, prevent and check air pollution and make the people aware of the dangerous effects of air pollution through various campaigns.

3. Effect of Noise on Human Behaviour:

According to Dr. May Smith, a golden age is frequently described as one in which noise was unknown. The important effect of noise on human behaviour is understood from this remark of Dr. May Smith.

It is an established fact that every individual in the modern age is daily exposed to some sort of noise coming from automobiles, loud speakers, traffic, radio, aircraft, railway, stations, children at play, market places, cinema halls and a host of common noises in various fields to which people are commonly exposed.

To add to this, industrial progress and technological advancements have made the problem of noise coming from gigantic machines as the worst. Factories and industries all the time add to this problem. Noise after a certain limit adversely affects general health.

A noisy atmosphere requires more energy to perform a task than a quiet atmosphere as the task demands more attention and more energy. Consequently, the person becomes fatigued quickly. This induces nervous disorder in the concerned people.

It is held that noise produces four adverse effects:

1. It distracts the attention of people. More distraction leads to extra expenditure of energy while performing a task.

2. Health is affected adversely.

3. Efficiency is lowered.

4. A tinge of fatigue, boredom and unpleasantness is attached to noise.

Noise has become a problem for everybody and it is disagreeable to most persons. Particularly, with technological advancement and increase of vehicles it has become widespread. However, when noise is within a particular limit i.e., within 85 decibels one may not be worried about it.

When it crosses the above limit it becomes harmful and has adverse effect on health and behaviour. It may lead to various physiological and psychological disturbances, may produce neurotic disorders.

Noise literally means any loud, disagreeable discontent and meaningless sound. A noise coming from the environment can either be periodic or continuous and non-periodic or discontinuous. Adjustment is easier in the case of continuous noise. Various observations and evidences show that unless the noise is sudden, loud and unusual, workers pay little attention to it.

Results of various studies conducted to determine the effect of noise on human behaviour by and large justify the view that though periodic noise is less disturbing than non-periodic noise, quiet situation is most preferable for mental work.

However noise is definitely disturbing as it distracts attention, leads to extra expenditure of energy and lowers performance.

On the basis of several experimental findings, Viteles holds that except certain meaningful noises, there is wide agreement that noise is a disagreeable and uncomfortable accompaniment of work.

It not only affects physical and mental health, but also has an adverse effect on the morale of the people due to its unpleasant nature In brief, it adversely affects human beings and it has a negative effect on human behaviour.

Correction of unpleasant and loud noise is therefore essential as it reduces irritation, improves performance and concentration and brings stability in behaviour by inducing pleasant feeling.

Noise Pollution:

As already discussed above due to mechanisation and urbanisation, due to advancement in the field of industry and technology, scientific researches, large use of arms and ammunitions, noise pollution has increased remarkably compared to the earlier period.

Any sound even a music which is considered unpleasant by a person appears to him as a noise. This is why a music to one may be a noise to another. Some people who do not understand the ABC of classical music consider it as noise and even put off the Radio or TV.

Sound pollution takes place particularly when it is of high intensity. It leads to shifting of attention, lack of concentration, nervousness, neurotic feeling, high level of arousal, decrement of reading, writing, mental work and performance in general.

To adjust with loud and polluted noise one has to spend extra energy which makes him fatigued early. Even it is said that polluted noise make neurotics more neurotic and it is seen that boarderline neurotics cannot tolerate noise at any cost. But it does not make normal people neurotics.

Non-periodic sounds are inpredictable and are not susceptible to adjustment. Hence they are more harmful physiologically and psychologically. For example vendors and railway employees are habituated and acquainted with the sound of railway engine as these are periodic noise. But a noise coming from the environment all of a sudden has relatively more negative effect on behaviour.

People sometimes wonder how railway employees tolerate noise for 24 hours, probably not knowing that the key to continuous noise is adjustment. Even loud speakers used in public during puja and marriage seasons have extremely irritating effect on behaviour.

The negative effects of loud noise and regular and daily exposure to sounds and noises of a busy airport leads to memory loss, hypertension, loss of hearing, and even strokes in case of adults.

Control of Noise Pollution:

Noise on behaviour is reduced when people perceive that they have control over it, and have the confidence to control it, by trying to adjust to continuous noise, and by avoiding discontinuous noise.

Further, Oaklay has suggested two general approaches to noise abatement:

1. Making of noise may be stopped.

2. Noise may be prevented from reaching people.

Though it is not possible to eliminate to prevent noise totally particularly in busy, industrial and urban areas, noise can be controlled and reduced to a reasonable level through the following techniques:

1. Machines should be designed in such a way that they are capable of absorbing sounds. Hence soundless machines should be designed and manufactured.

2. Traffic rules should be changed i.e., instead of using the horn, light should be used in the night as followed in USA. I have rarely heard the sound of the horn of a vehicle in USA. People follow the traffic rules and traffic signals strictly in that country and anyone who disobeys the traffic rules and rules of driving are severely punished by law.

Their licence is cancelled or they are heavily fined on the spot. Old cars are not allowed on USA roads as they pollute an­as well as produce unpleasant sound. Though thousands of cars pass through the USA roads within minutes, sound pollution is minimum in that country.

3. Workers regularly working in noisy environments should use ear devices such as ear defenders, ear plugs and ear muffs whenever they feel its necessity.

4. Departments containing noisy machines may be segregated from the walls and floors by means of rubber, cork etc. Sound proof rooms should be constructed if possible. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, England has formed a committee to find out the methods of reducing the transmission of noise in buildings.

5. Human engineers in collaborations with psychologists and medical men should design soundless machines. Noises coming from driving, belt of the rotating fan etc. caused due to defective or old machines should be avoided by withdrawing them.

Now-a-days, soundless refrigerators, computers and generators are being manufactured which were considered impossible some decades back. So soundless vehicles, noiseless type writers, electric motors and water pumps should, be designed more and more to prevent noise pollution. Active research should be done in this regard in public interest.

4. Effect of Manmade Pollutions and Disasters on Human behaviour:

Manmade disasters are those which are created and produced by the human beings because of their lack of responsibility, carelessness, selfishness, greed for money and above all persons responsible for manmade disasters lack humanitarian attitude.

For the last several decades in the name of urbanisation and industrialisation and economic development of the nation persons with vested interests have closed their eyes and ears regarding environmental pollution.

It is commonly agreed that natural disasters are the curse of the nature and man has no control over it. But when industries and factories are established without being concerned about environment pollution, man is responsible for it.

Nothing in the world is more valuable than human life and all steps should be taken to check and prevent environment pollution as it is responsible for large number of diseases which ultimately take the life of large number of people and make many persons physically disabled and mentally unsound.

Various technological disasters take place where the Factory Act is not properly followed. Toxins and waste products are thrown in to rivers and ponds thus polluting the water which people use for drinking or taking bath. It is seen mostly in villages that people use the ponds for the bath of domestic animals like cattle.

This water is also used for human bathing and drinking, particularly in villages where these is scarcity of water. This leads to several diseases and infections. Similarly, it is found that even in towns and cities the pipes supplying drinking water to citizens by the municipality or corporation authorities leak at many places and the water gets polluted. Rarely this is checked or care is taken to change such old broken pipes.

As a result people suffer from dysentery, typhoid and other water borne diseases on a mass scale. It is commonly found that drains are not cleaned for years together, open spaces are filled with polluted water which enables mosquitoes to breed and everyone knows what harm the mosquitoes do to people.

Are these not manmade faults for which our environment gets polluted and we suffer from various diseases? Public awareness and strict rules plus vigilance and concern of the authorities can only check and prevent these manmade disasters. Those who fail to perform their duty and responsibility in this regard should also be stringently punished.

Machines make gigantic sounds all the time without having any concern for noise pollution, loud speakers are played for 18-20 hours without any respect for the people’s health both physical and mental.

Garbage is thrown here and there, on the road, people urinate and pass stool on the public road, but nobody seems concerned about it even in many big cities of India. But this is not permitted in most of the Western Countries.

That is why many of these countries have progressed and prospered within 200-250 years and are called developed countries while we in India having a civilization of several thousands years still continue to be a developing country.

Man made pollution of the environment is really shameful. These are rampant throughout the world, particularly in industrial areas. In many places of the world, now-a-days therefore steps are taken to establish industrial and technological belts in faraway places, far from the residential areas.

The environment pollution boards established in different states also are taking care of these facts. But these are not enough to check the adverse impact of environment on human behaviour and human life. It is seen that air passengers use cotton in their ears while the plane takes off to avoid the impact of high sound on ears.

Coming to manmade disasters, we are reminded of the Bhopal Gas Disaster in 1984. This disaster had intense and long-term adverse impact on people and their lives. Even after 22 years, the disaster victims are still suffering financially, physically and mentally.

In this disaster more than 3,000 people were killed and about two lakhs (2, 00,000) gas victims were physically handicapped. Even today, thousands of victims of Bhopal gas tragedy are suffering physically and mentally.

Studies indicate that the survivors of the manmade disasters suffer from various neurotic diseases and psychological dysfunctions like anxiety, stress, depression, withdrawal symptoms, insomnia, anger, fear and even nightwares.

Many of them see bad dreams in the night and have a disturbed sleep which affects their physical well-being. Hence extra care should be taken to avoid manmade disasters. When a machine becomes defective, old or there is leakage, immediately it should be replaced.

Problem of Nuclear Energy and Waste:

These also lead to environment pollution and are manmade disasters. People world-wide have therefore objected vehemently to the construction of nuclear bombs and the nuclear facilities. Since the nuclear energy production disposes toxic wastes public opposes it strongly.

These have undoubtedly severe consequences on public health. Because of the release of radioactive material from nuclear productions, accidents also take place.

Besides, residents staying nearby also go through emotional and psychological instability. Their mental health is damaged. Because of perceived and imagined psychological and physical threat, they also feel scared and experience considerable stress and anxiety. Their whole life is damaged.

Evidences are rampant regarding the adverse impact of nuclear tests as well as nuclear productions. Survivors with physical disability have anxiety of hazardous death. They show stress related psychosomatic symptoms throughout their lives.

There is also significant increase in the number of abortions, giving birth to physically deformed, handicapped babies and mentally crippled children. People living in the nuclear energy production area also have to take special steps for buying special foods, medicines to prevent the adverse effect of polluted environment due to nuclear wastes.

Management of nuclear wastes from the nuclear facilities like nuclear power plants is also a vital problem in these areas. It poses serious challenge to the government throughout the world. Disposal of wastes poses major concern everywhere in the world where nuclear tests are made or nuclear energy plants are established.

Of course government is very careful in this regard. But sometimes accidents occur and innocent people are affected. Hence along with government bodies, N.G.Os (Non-government organisations) should come forward to check, prevent and control man made environmental pollution.

If something serious comes to their notice, they should within no time inform the authorities for immediate prevention and the person/persons if found guilty should be given exemplary punishment.