Controlling Our Environments

If there is little we can do to control our environment, then do we feel as relaxed and calm as we do when we know there is something we can do to control an event? We typically have control over most things in our private home, but when we make the jump to public spaces sense of control is sometimes lost, and along with it, our comfort. This post will take a look at three different types of the control theory (behavioral, cognitive, and decisional) and discover how design ties into it all. 

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Behavioral control is defined as “…the ability to exert a direct influence or action on the environment” (Pacheco et al., 2013). Have you ever turned your blinds or closed your curtains to create a more private space? This is a way we alter our physical environment to meet our desires. This form of control becomes more difficult when entering a public setting. I have walked into many rooms wishing I could just turn up the heat but being unable to. Instead, I resort to putting on a jacket and making myself comfortable rather than affecting the entire area. Offering blankets in a reading section of a cold library would allow an individual to have behavioral control over their personal environment.

Behavioral Control Expressed by Closing Curtains
Photo taken by Me

Cognitive control has to do with our perception of an environment. Individuals have varying points of view and, as a result, process places uniquely. For example, if a coffee shop were filled with people chatting, those who are conversing with each other may perceive the environment as lively and welcoming. I were trying to study in the same room, my own peace would be interrupted by the noise, and my view of the environment would be negative. However, if I were specifically looking at behaviors of people in public places, the observation of people interacting would benefit my studies, and I would have much more positive perception of the environment. As an interior architect, it is important to focus on how differences in views must be considered when designing a space, as individuals perceive the same environments in different ways.

Noise heard from others can be perceived as a distraction when studying.
Hand-Sketched by Me

Decisional control is where the individual chooses how they are going to respond to a situation. Many times, this comes down to the question: “Do I stay, or do I leave?” Why do you think stadiums have concourses for people? Yes, it is where you can pick up some over-priced snacks, but it is also an area where you can distance yourself from the bustle of the main event and focus on something with a lower activity level. I know if I am given a chance to regroup and take a breather, I am more more likely to stay at a certain event longer. The study of why people make the decision to leave helps to prevent that particular thing from happening. My goal as a designer is to create a space where people decide to stay and spend their time by giving them ways to be in charge of their environment.

Concourse at M&T Bank Stadium
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Knowing the client is vital to design because it affects how different factors will influence a person’s thoughts and behaviors. Providing various options in environments for people helps them have control over the situation, feel better about where they are, and end up wanting to stay in the place they have chosen to visit. I recognize that every circumstance is impossible to plan for, but I would like to minimize when individuals make the decision to leave due to not having any sort of control in their environment. I care about how the end-user of my designs feel and want to provide comfort by giving choices to help encourage people to stay.



Sources:
Pacheco, Natália Araujo, Lunardo, Renaud, & Santos, Cristiane Pizzutti dos. (2013). A perceived-control based model to understanding the effects of co-production on satisfaction. BAR - Brazilian Administration Review, 10(2), 219-238. https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1807-76922013000200007