Nature and the Authentic you!

Yang, Sedikides, Wang, and Cai “formulated several hypotheses: (a) nature fosters authenticity, and it does so through at least four plausible mechanisms: self-esteem, basic needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, relatedness), mindfulness, and positive affect; (b) self-esteem is the strongest mechanism overall, and autonomy is the strongest mechanism of the three basic needs . . . and (d) authenticity mediates the positive influence of nature on longer term psychological well-being (higher life satisfaction and meaning in life, lower depression, anxiety, and stress). We obtained support for these hypotheses across 12 studies. . . . These were diverse in terms of setting (field, laboratory) . . . methodology (varying manipulations of nature . . .), and sampling (university/community, East Asian/Western). The findings establish nature as a correlate and determinant of authenticity, chiefly via the mechanism of self-esteem, and further establish authenticity . . . as a mediator of the positive influence of nature on psychological well-being.”

Ying Yang, Constantine Sedikides, Yugi Wang, and Huajian Cai.  “Nature Nurtures Authenticity:  Mechanisms and Consequences.”  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, in press, https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000432