Value of Time in Nature – “Science News”

New research shows that the more time we spend in nature the more generous we are, it creates a sense of transcendence.

Castelo lead a team that confirmed previous findings and determined via lab and field studies that “exposure to nature increases a sense of self-transcendence and prosocial behavior.  Self-transcendence involves feeling deeply connected to something greater than oneself, including past and future generations.  Prosocial behaviors include donating money to charity and prioritizing others above the self. . . .  Spending time in nature has many psychological benefits for people, including stress reduction and improved mood.”

Noah Castelo, Katherine White, and Miranda Goode.  “Exposure to Nature Promotes Self-Transcendence and Prosocial Behavior.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, in press, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101639