The New Environmental Model of Man and the Shift from the Traditional Structural to a Transactional View of Perception

Abstract

This article concentrates on the development of an environmental model of man, as well as a transactional approach to environmental perception; both of which can be seen as the result of a shift from the traditional structural approach to psychological functions and processes to a transactional approach with regard to the man-environment relationship. S. Afr. J. PsychoI. 1981, 11: 98 -105 Die artikel sentreer om die ontwikkeling van 'n omgewingsmensmodel, asook 'n transaksionele benadering tot omgewingswaarneming; albei kan gesien word as die gevolg van 'n klemverskuiwing van die tradisionele strukturele benadering in die verklaring van sielkundige funksionering en prosesse, na 'n transaksionele benadering ten opsigte van die mens-omgewing verhouding.S.-Afr. Tydskr. Sielk. 1981, 11: 98 -105 Revised version of a paper which was part of a panel discussion on 'The Perception of quality of life under rapid industrialization' at a symposium on 'Shaping our environment',

Transactionism in Person-Environment Theory

“…While a number of definitions have been put forward (Barnes, 1983;Holahan, 1982;Viljoen, 1981) authors are in accord that environmental psychology involves the analysis of human experiences and actions in relation to the external context in which they take place.…”

“…Whereas interactionists differentiate between people and objects, stating that each have particular characteristics which also exist independent of the situation, transactionalists argue that the characteristics of both person and the environment are situationally created -that these characteristics are in fact construed through situational transactions. Here, interactionism is reformulated by proposing that it is the mutually dependent nature of the interactions between person and environment systems which give meaning to a situation (Ittleson et al, 1975;Viljoen, 1981). Thus, in distinguishing between people and the environment, transactionalists posit that these two categories do not exist separately from each other and that human behaviour must be analysed in the context of an interdependent person-environment perspective.…”

“…Transactional arguments in Environmental Psychology have already been put forward in work which ranges from environmental perception (Viljoen, 1981), crowding (Van Staden, 1983) and environmental stress (Stokols, 1979) to the analysis of homes and social change (Gauvain, Altman, & Fahim, 1983), educational environments (Moos, 1979) and the role of tradition in group-environment relations (Jacobi & Stokols, 1983).…”

“…Where interactionism is an approach to the study of phenomena based on the assumption that persons and objects operating in a situation have particular characteristics that can be distinguished independently of the situation, transactionism by contrast, asserts that such characteristics can only be determined situationally -that these characteristics are construed through situational transactions. As a consequence transactionalists argue in favour of a reformulation of perceptual and behavioural investigations where the environmental context is regarded as an inextricable aspect of any investigation, including the formulation of methods (Viljoen, 1981;Wallis, 1982). Commenting on transactional units of analysis, Gauvain et al (1983, p.182) state that if physical places ' ... can be described in terms that also apply to psychological processes and, conversely if psychological processes can be described in terms of the contexts in which they occur, then a first step toward a transactional perspective will be achieved.'…”

“…Accounts of transactional propositions within an environmental psychological perspective have already been put forward by a number of authors (Altman, 1981;Jacobi et al, 1983;Viljoen, 1981). Based upon these frameworks, the investigation of various issues of concern is propagated.…”