Thursday 23 July 15:40 - 17:10

Hall: 24 - Room 3 SPT

Chair: Scopelliti Massimiliano

Division: Division 4: Environmental Psychology

Environmental Psychology has widely investigated the processes associated with human functioning and well-being
in relation to the environment, across different contexts, populations, and situations. Yet, much is still to be better
understood, and new directions in the discipline should be identified.
In this regard, this symposium proposes a connection between Positive and Environmental Psychology, starting with
empirical evidences of new potential applications in natural and organizational settings, and then suggesting
reflections and identifying directions for future multidisciplinary work.
Elena Rinallo (presenter) and Massimiliano Scopelliti moved a step forward in the literature on the positive social
effects of contact with nature through a cross-sectional study showing its role in reducing prejudice and discrimination
towards immigrants.
Paula Benevene and Ilaria Buonomo (presenter) developed a qualitative analysis on the role of HR practices in the
simultaneous promotion of both environmental sustainability and employee psychological well-being, giving further
evidence supporting an integrative approach, in which the two goals are not mutually exclusive, but interdependent.

Raquel Redondo proposed a meta-analytic study on nature exposure in the workplace and employee outcomes, in
terms of productivity, organizational attitudes, cognitive functioning and emotional responses, and psychological
well-being.
Finally, Michael Steger offers a comprehensive reflection on the past 25 years of Positive Psychology, and
proposes Regenerative Positive Psychology as a call to reorient this field through the integration with Environmental
Psychology and its attention the environmental crisis, to make a beneficial impact on the systems that sustain life and
well-being.