Friday, March 11, 2011

The Effects of Population Density

The term population density is Little More Than Described as the ratio of organisms to the size of an area (Xpeditions, 2008). This ratio is Determined by taking the number of people in a given area and dividing that number by the area They Occupy. As of the last U.S. census, the average population density of the United States WAS 70 people per square mile (Xpeditions, 2008). This is just an Objective fact though and has little, if any, applicability to the average American's daily life. However, When issues of excess population Decreased noise and privacy are taken into account the subjective perception of population density meets the Objective fact of population density. As population density Increases so does the noise That Produces The Population, Especially in crowded areas. Likewise, as people move to a more confined area of ​​the Ability to Maintain privacy and a sense of territoriality and ADAPTS changes. To Fully Understand how population density Affects individual people, the concepts of noise, privacy, territoriality, personal space and must be covered and the relevance of These concepts-and-mediation thereof Must Be Applied to the subject of populations.

Noise

Noise is in the ear of the beholder, or So It Would Seem. Strictly speaking, noise is a sound-wave That Any travel through an air medium-that is unwanted or interferes with the normal transmission of acoustic information (Arkkelin & Veitch, 1995). Notwithstanding, the perception of noise does devolves a psychological component, so the identification and classification of noise is highly subjective. Sound Itself has ifferentiating Several Characteristics perceptual-pitch, timbre, amplification Directly-which correspond with the physical attributes of the sound-wave symmetry Itself, wavelength, and wave amplitude. Also, scientists use to measure decibels and hertz sound amplification and frequency, respectively. Even though there is little know about the neurological That language transmits the physical mechanism of sound to the psychological perception of hearing, there is a general consensus in academic literature That, "... transportation vehicles like cars, trucks, trains, and plains, and gatherings of people at, for example, a rock concert, the neighborhood bar, or a Saturday night BYOB party "are all sources of noise (Arkkelin & Veitch, 1995, p. 208). For instance, Bronzaft et al (2008) Found That That people live near airports experience four times the normal amount of noise Than Other residential occupants and 50% are more Likely to Be Bothered by airplane and other transportation noise. In this example the subjective perception of noise is influenced by the environment in Which the sound is presented. Furthermore, is largely anthropogenic noise even though it still can cause cumulative and chronic psychological and physiological damage-Areas Affecting the Functioning of psychological, social behavior, and task performance. As with Almost Any Environmental stimuli, there are strategies and Means by Which can be mediated and noise reduced.

Strategies to Reduce Noise

A New Technology That is now in use in computer Microprocessors Some industries utilizes sound waves to create Opposing to noise, thereby canceling out the noise Altogether (Arkkelin & Veitch, 1995). This type of technology is effective in Most Situations WHERE repetitive noise is exhibited, since the Opposing waves are Easier to produce since They are always the same. Currently Being the technology is used in airplane pilot helmets to allow Them to hear cockpit communications and better cancel out the sound of the engines. Moreover, keep sound absorbing materials can be Placed Between people and equipment in order to protect people from unwanted noise. By using sound absorbing materials and sound canceling technology, Noise Can Be Reduced to a bearable level.

Another way to mediate or reduce noise is to modify the source of the noise itself. In the case of industrial equipment, Measures Should be taken to limit or marginalized rattles, reverberations, and vibrations through proper maintenance and the use of perforated materials (Arkkelin & Veitch, 1995). It is important to remember That even though the effects of noise are cumulative, noise is not Itself. Only by Reducing the loudest sounds can the decibel (db) level be reduced. If noises are medium range Eliminated the overall db level does not go down Substantially, since db does not follow a linear pattern. By Reducing the first and loudest noises Reducing vibrations, etc ... through proper maintenance and the use of perforated materials, noise can be reduced.

Territoriality, Privacy, and Personal Space

Proxemics is the term used to describe person-environment-spatial associations and covers the Areas of territoriality, crowding, and personal space (Arkkelin & Veitch, 1995). As with the concept of noise, the positioning of people in Their social and physical worlds is predicated on cultural, psychological, and Environmental Influences.

Territoriality

The traditional definition of territoriality centered on the defense and marking off of a physical intrusion by boundary Against Those of the Same Species (Arkkelin & Veitch, 1995). More recently the definition has Been updated to the refer expressly to the governing of space around an organism, specifically the Distance Between Themselves and Others of the Same species. In humans, territoriality falls Within three domains: primary, secondary, and public. Primary Territories are Those That Are Exclusively owned by a person for a Relatively permanent amount of time; Whereas, secondary Territories Areas are Those That Are not Entirely owned or permanently, But are "rented" so to speak, public or semi-public spaces . Primary territoriality Has Been shown to INCREASE belongingness to groups in social work Situations, Which in turn Increases Performance and Reduces turnovers (Brown, Lawrence & Robinson, 2005). Last, public Territories are Those That Are open to anyone and follow a first-come-first-serve basis. Primary Territories might be at home or dorm room, a desk at a secondary Territories That class is assigned to a student, and public Territories Would Be the booth at a local McDonalds. There is overlap In These three domains in the day to day Activities of individuals, But For The Most Part the lines are fairly clear.

Privacy

In large degree, the end of territorial territorial behaviors and practices is to Maintain Some semblance of privacy (Arkkelin & Veitch, 1995). Although it must be Noted That primary Territories are much more geared Towards privacy Than, say, or public secondary Territories. Irwin Altman painted the broad strokes by Defining privacy as, "... an interpersonal boundary control process ... a process involving a dynamic interplay Dialectic Between the Opposing Forces of seeking versus restricting access ... [and] an Optimizing Process" (Arkkelin & Veitch, 1995, p. 267). By using this verbiage, privacy Becomes a dynamic process by humans Which Regulate the exposure of self to other selves.

Personal Space

Personal space Has Been Described by theorists as the "shell of a snail ... soap bubble worlds ... aura ... [or] invisible boundaries" (Arkkelin & Veitch, 1995, p. 273). If territoriality is the governing of space between individuals and privacy is the regulation of Contact Between the self and other selves, then the mobile personal space is territoriality of the self. In short, personal space is the psychological space around oneself mediated Which Is Considered Territory of primary and private. Furthermore, there are Several different types of personal space: intimate distance (0-18 inches), personal distance (18 to 48 inches), social distance (4-12 feet), and public distance (12 - 25 feet). Each distance has culturally, socially, and biologically predicated Which rules govern Which Those individuals are allowed Within short distances and how to interact with individuals ounces Those They Are In Those zones. These are only Approximate short distances, since personal space is not a fixed distance, But Rather's is built upon personal, social, and Environmental variables That Are Present in the surroundings.

Population Density and territoriality, Privacy, and Personal Space

Privacy guidelines vary from person to person. In fact, Arkkelin & Veitch (1995) go further to say That, "is more privacy ... Closely related to interpersonal relationships Than To Object social density" (p. 269). As with many Environmental stimuli, medial levels of social inputs are optimal for most people. Increases When population density (crowding), needs for privacy, territoriality, and personal space as well INCREASE. In order to Regulate Social humans inputs Become more protective of primary Territories. Furthermore, cross-cultural Differences Have Been Noted Between different cultures, with the Latin cultures Maintaining proximity to Greater Than Between individuals North American cultures. In all, population density is only a number given by the Social Meaning, psychological, and situational context That it exists.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the subjective impression of population density through expression INCREASE ITS Finds Decreased noise and privacy. Any sound is That Noise is unwanted or interferes with normal acoustic communication. Sound absorbing materials, noise-canceling Microprocessors, perforated materials, and proper maintenance can be Utilized to reduce noise. Territoriality is the marking off of a physical space That is regulated by an organism, conversely, personal space is the regulation of the mobile territoriality of the self. Privacy is the regulation of exposure of the self to other selves and Becomes more important as population density increases. Furthermore, the regulation of social inputs Becomes Paramount Increases When population density, thereby offering Some semblance of privacy and primary Territory.

References

Arkkelin, D., Veitch, R. (1995). Environmental Psychology: An International Perspective, 1e.New York, NY: Prentice Hall, Inc.

Bronzaft, AL, Cohen, BS, Goodman, J., Heikkinen, M., Nadas, A. (2008). Airport-related noise and airpollution. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene, 5 (2), 119-129. Retrieved June 28, 2010, from CINAHL Plus with Full Text database.

Brown, G., Lawrence, T. B., & Robinson, S. L. (2005). Territoriality in organizations. Academyof Management Review, 30 (3), 577-594. Retrieved June 28, 2010, from Business Source Complete database.

Xpeditions: A look at the population density of the United States. (2008). National Geographic.Retrieved June 29, 2010, from National Geographic Web site: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/01/g912/density.html

The ethnic density effect on alcohol use Among ethnic minority people in the UK

The ethnic density effect on alcohol use Among ethnic minority people in the UK

Despi drinking alcohol lower rates of UK ethnic minority people (EXCLUDING Irish) Compared with Those of the White Majority, events of Racial Discrimination expose ethnic minorities to unique stressors That high risk for the Escapist drinking.

Studies of ethnic density, the Geographical concentration of ethnic minorities in an area, Have found racism to be less prevalent in Areas of Increased ethnic density, and this study hypothesises That minority ethnic people living in the Areas of high ethnic density will report less alcohol use for to Their Counterparts, two to Increased Decreased experienced racism and sociocultural norms.

Multilevel Logistic Regressions Were Applied to data from the 1999 and 2004 Health Survey for England linked to ethnic density data from 2001 census.

Respondents living in non-White area types and Areas of higher density coethnic Decreased Odds of Being Reported on current drinkers to Their Counterparts. A statistically Significant reduction in the odds of exceeding sensible drinking recommendations Was Observed for area types in Black Caribbeans, Africans in coethnic Areas of higher density and Indian people living in Indian area types.

Results Confirmed in ethnic density protective effect for current Alcohol Consumption, But Showed a less consistent picture of an ethnic density effect for adherence to sensible drinking guidelines.

Previous research has shown alcohol use That is Increasing Among ethnic minorities, and so in Greater understanding of alcohol-related behavior Among UK ethnic minority people is important to Establish Their need for preventive care and advice on safe drinking practices.