Attention Restoration Theory
12th August 2023
The ‘Attention Restoration Theory’ was first described by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan in their 1989 book published in ‘The experience of nature: A psychological perspective’. This is the theory that spending time in nature has a uniquely restorative effect on us, both cognitively and mentally. It suggests that the mere action of spending time in the countryside, walking in a forest, sitting in a park, watching the sunset or even just looking out the window at a green space provides us with the opportunity to rest, reflect and restore the resources that we require to cope with everyday life.
Attention Restoration Theory (or ART) proposes that in addition to exposure to nature being enjoyable, that it also has restorative effects, especially in terms of our ability to focus and concentrate. They propose that there are four stages along the path to restoration:
Clearing the mind, where concerns, worries and negative thoughts are allowed to pass through the mind and fade away, not by pushing them away, but by letting them flow through and out;
Recovery from mental fatigue, where, following any activity that requires focused and directed attention, the mind is allowed to recover to normal levels;
Soft fascination, where the individual can spend time in an environment that attracts us and is stimulating in a gentle way, where they can relax such as the natural environment (as opposed to ‘hard’ fascination like watching television or sports that require a higher level of attention that usually precludes time for reflection);
And ‘Reflection and Restoration’, where the most impactful restoration occurs, most commonly from spending an extended period of time in an environment that has four key components or meets four critical requirements.
The Four Components of Restorative Experiences or Environments:
According to Kaplan and Kaplan, there are four key components that they believed were necessary for a restorative environment or restorative experience:
1. Being Away
2. Soft Fascination
3. Extent
4. Compatibility
Being Away
Being away refers to the sense of being separate and apart from one’s usual thoughts and concerns; becoming psychologically detached from your present worries and experiencing a feeling of escape from everyday life.
Soft Fascination
Fascination involves something holding your attention without any effort expended. Restorative environments hold your attention without you having to focus or direct it a certain way, and in a natural environment this might include listening to birdsong or the wind in the trees; watching clouds move by or water flow; being absorbed in the beauty of a sunset or sunrise. As previously discussed, environments that involve ‘soft fascination’, such as nature, are usually perceived to be more restorative than those that involve ‘hard fascination’, such as motor racing, although the latter can provide entertainment and reduce boredom.
Extent
Extent refers to the quality of the restorative environment that encourages you to feel totally immersed and engaged and as if you are in a whole other world.
Compatibility
Compatibility is all about feeling enjoyment in and an affinity to your environment. To be restorative, an environment must be one in which the individual chooses to be out of intrinsic motivation (they are doing it for themselves) and personal preference, otherwise they are unlikely to experience restoration.
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Hugh Asher
I’m Hugh and I’m a Certified Forest Bathing Guide and Forest Therapy Practitioner, having trained with the Forest Therapy Institute and the Forest Therapy Hub. My purpose in life is to inspire people to improve their wellbeing, and to help people to help and inspire others to improve their wellbeing. I do this through promoting greater nature connection as I am a passionate believer in the benefits to health and wellbeing that nature and increased connection to nature can bring.
Professionally, I have worked for over twenty years supporting people experiencing: mental health problems; autism; learning disabilities; school exclusion; experience of the care system; and a history of offending behaviour. Currently I am the ‘Recovery Through Nature Lead’ in a residential rehab for people experiencing drug and alcohol problems.
I have a PhD in Therapeutic Relationships, but Dr. Hugh makes me sound too much like a Time Lord.