Swinging Too Far in Urban Planning as in Psychology

A photograph by the author shows seniors and retired people playing checkers and cards in the belvedere of a bridge in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The bridge has two bars on each side that serve up beers and bar snacks. When the bridge was built in the 18th century, this use of public space could never have been planned. This is an example of the relationship between perception and the appropriation of urban space.

The worlds of urban design and psychology share similar obstacles. There is a temptation to swing too far in addressing problems, leading to unintended consequences. We repeat everyday mistakes in urban planning that can be related to psychological phenomena. Overcorrection could be one of these situations. The fields of psychology or urban planning require long-range analysis within a vast range of phenomena that range from barely discernible nuisances to galactic threats. It is difficult to define what is considered normal in city planning and psychology because things change and vary all the time. The solutions need to be adjusted to match and balance many things in complicated systems. Urban problems are similar to personality disorders. Both are difficult to understand and manage, and urban planners and citizens may feel stressed because of big cities.

For years, I have had asthma that was worsened by my own psychosomatic factors. Stress and anxiety can worsen asthma. This situation shows how our actions can make the problem worse. Our bodies frequently exhibit excessive responses to stress or perceived danger, resulting in a vicious cycle. Traffic congestion in city planning can be exacerbated by pretending to extend roads or campaigning against private transport. People may choose to use personal vehicles if public transportation becomes stranded, slow, impossible to use, or unappealing. This would increase congestion and keep the cycle going.

Urban planning may involve stress management techniques or urban design solutions that work like medications to only help manage temporary anxiety symptoms. Cities can deal with their problems without having to take drastic measures. Psychological interventions have proven to be beneficial for numerous individuals who are battling various ailments, since they aid in identifying the thoughts and emotions that influence their actions. Urban planners and citizens in general may employ cognitive restructuring to identify and confront negative thoughts that may exacerbate the diagnosis and proposals associated with urban development. Identifying stressors and crafting healthier alternatives has always been a vital component of city design. It’s common to think that exaggerating the opposite will solve the problem, regardless of the behavior disorder. Some individuals may opt to undergo numerous lengthy showers to eliminate a small lack of hygiene. Someone of this nature will spend more than 12 hours in bed instead of getting a restful night’s sleep to alleviate fatigue. In urban planning, it is the equivalent of fighting apparent urban chaos with too many rules, any nuisances with prohibitions, etc.

The treatment of behavior disorders often requires lifestyle changes, and these treatments can result in an overload not only for the patient, but also for his family. Similar to what happens in the world of urban planning, a medical issue can escalate if proper diagnosis and care aren’t taken. Just like in city planning, medical help can only partially solve or delay some problems. Problem development and outcomes depend on how people live and what they do every day. Cognitive-behavioural therapy appears to contribute to increasing the acceptability and adherence of patients to treatment. The therapist and the patient engage in psychoeducation regarding the disturbance and its possible treatment options. They evaluate potential obstacles to adherence and jointly devise strategies to address them, with the goal of achieving superior treatment outcomes. This could be related to city planning. This scenario is an opportunity to help citizens get rid of their belief in wrong solutions and embrace the chance to help solve city issues. With a little urban education, citizens can participate in the “treatment” of city issues.

Consider cognitive-behavioural therapies in relation to urban planning methods. Let’s think about the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. People’s behavior and feelings are directly related to how they process and structure reality through their cognitive abilities. The way the individual interprets the situations they experience will influence their feelings and actions more than the situation itself. In this case, information processing is explained by interrelated mental structures responsible for the perception and interpretation of world events. The way we think, feel, and act together is important for more than just planning cities or studying psychology.

People often consider their beliefs to be immutable. These “truths” and many other levels of beliefs are what people grow up with, such as conditional statements (“if…then…”). There are automatic thoughts, presentification of beliefs, and representations of an evaluative nature that present themselves in parallel to the flow of our thinking, regardless of deliberation or reasoning.

According to the cognitive model, psychological problems and disorders are an enhancement of an individual’s normal adaptive functioning. The link between normal adaptive functioning and maladaptive functioning seems to be the result of overstating the biases found in typical information processing. Negative bias usually makes the threat or challenge seem bigger than it is, while positive bias makes the reward seem bigger. Schemas may become deactivated when new information that contradicts biased beliefs is introduced. The amount of conviction for the biased belief decreases, but the belief remains unresolved until it is reactivated. The cognitive-behavioral therapy approach exhibits a patient-centered communication approach, whereas in the realm of urban planning, it would likely be more akin to social psychology. Anyway, the problems of perception and analysis are, basically, the same problems that urban planners have.

Psychological approaches may offer a lens through which we can view the challenges of urban planning. Just as individual behaviors are influenced by cognitive processes, so are collective behaviors in urban settings.

• Predictive psychological analysis and insights can help predict pedestrian flows, identify popular communal spaces, and influence transportation design.
• Personal well-being preoccupations may help design spaces that promote well-being by integrating more natural spaces, ensuring adequate lighting, or designing streets to boost community interaction.
• Stress mitigation may help prioritize solutions like sound barriers, green buffers, or alternative transportation routes to counter urban stressors.
• Engaging the community may require a psychological understanding of group dynamics and communication techniques for better community engagement.
• Major urban projects can reshape a community’s character. By understanding the psychological effects of change, planners can address community concerns more effectively.
• Different age groups and demographics have unique psychological needs. By catering to these needs, cities can become more inclusive and diverse.

In both psychology and urban planning, there are issues in analysis or diagnosis, and treatments or proposals that could benefit from a holistic approach. Just as a therapist might use CBT to understand and adapt an individual’s cognitive processes, urban planners must consider the holistic and intertwined needs of their communities. By viewing urban planning through a psychological lens, we can foster environments that are both physically and psychologically attuned to residents’ needs.

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