Stranger in a Strange Land Louis G Tassinary, PhD, JD College of Architecture Texas A&M University...

Stranger in a Strange Land

Stranger in a Strange Land

Louis G Tassinary, PhD, JDCollege of Architecture

Texas A&M University

Louis G Tassinary, PhD, JDCollege of Architecture

Texas A&M University

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Plimsoll marks

Ph.D (Perception & Cognition)Dartmouth College (1985)

Research Scientist (Psychophysiology)University of Iowa (1985-1990)

Faculty (Architecture)Texas A&M University (1990-?)

NSF PFF Award Texas A&M University (1993-98)

J.D. (Environmental Law)Boston College (2000-03)

Associate Dean for ResearchTexas A&M University (2004-?)



The LearnersThe Learners

ArchitectureLandscape ArchitectureConstruction ManagementUrban & Regional PlanningComputer ScienceTourism and Recreation Science

And other miscreants…



Is Psychology Required?Is Psychology Required?

• Presently, NO. However….– There is one officially sanctioned elective in one

graduate certificate program– Currently fills an hole in the Cognitive Psychology and

Computer Science curriculum– New undergraduate course to be offered for the first

time this Spring– Perception may become required for undergraduate

degree in Visualization

• Presently, NO. However….– There is one officially sanctioned elective in one

graduate certificate program– Currently fills an hole in the Cognitive Psychology and

Computer Science curriculum– New undergraduate course to be offered for the first

time this Spring– Perception may become required for undergraduate

degree in Visualization



Is Psychology Required?Is Psychology Required?

• ARCH 677: Neuroscience and Architecture• Course Description

– The primary purpose of the course is to provide graduate students in the design disciplines with an advanced introduction to the field of experimental psychophysiology with applications taken primarily from the field of environmental psychology and supplemented with examples from social and cognitive neuroscience. Students should expect to become intelligent consumers of the psychophysiological literature through their exposure to the foundations, principles, and selected applications of neuroscience. The specific content and format of this graduate seminar will be adapted to the interests and expertise of the students.

• ARCH 677: Neuroscience and Architecture• Course Description

– The primary purpose of the course is to provide graduate students in the design disciplines with an advanced introduction to the field of experimental psychophysiology with applications taken primarily from the field of environmental psychology and supplemented with examples from social and cognitive neuroscience. Students should expect to become intelligent consumers of the psychophysiological literature through their exposure to the foundations, principles, and selected applications of neuroscience. The specific content and format of this graduate seminar will be adapted to the interests and expertise of the students.



Role/RationaleRole/Rationale

• Long standing recognition of the need for the professions to be user-centered– Implicitly taught in the majority of courses

offered in the curriculum

• Over the past four decades books, symposia, journals and societies have been devoted to person-environment transactions.

• Long standing recognition of the need for the professions to be user-centered– Implicitly taught in the majority of courses

offered in the curriculum

• Over the past four decades books, symposia, journals and societies have been devoted to person-environment transactions.



Special IssuesSpecial Issues

• Strikingly diverse backgrounds

• Need for interactive and flexible pedagogies

• Incommensurable knowledge priorities

• Hubris

• Strikingly diverse backgrounds

• Need for interactive and flexible pedagogies

• Incommensurable knowledge priorities

• Hubris



Opportunities and BarriersOpportunities and Barriers

• Potential to influence future “deciders”

• Gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to “guidelines”

• The studio as multidisciplinary model– Problem Seeking– Problem Solving

• Potential to influence future “deciders”

• Gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to “guidelines”

• The studio as multidisciplinary model– Problem Seeking– Problem Solving



Implications for PsychologyImplications for Psychology

• Reinventing the wheel

• Need for translational research– “Lab to Living Room”

• The importance of consensus

• Reinventing the wheel

• Need for translational research– “Lab to Living Room”

• The importance of consensus



Preparing for the FuturePreparing for the Future

• Reinvigorate Environmental Psychology– Work with the private sector to endow

scholarships, fellowships and professorships.– Institutionalize support at the federal level

• Bolster collaborative teaching

• Reinvigorate Environmental Psychology– Work with the private sector to endow

scholarships, fellowships and professorships.– Institutionalize support at the federal level

• Bolster collaborative teaching



Role for APARole for APA

• Co-sponsor symposia with – Major corporations (e.g., Herman Miller)– Other professions (e.g., American Planning

Association, American Institute of Architects)– Other countries (e.g., National Research Council)

• Produce monographs that are accessible to evidence-seeking planners & designers

• Co-sponsor symposia with – Major corporations (e.g., Herman Miller)– Other professions (e.g., American Planning

Association, American Institute of Architects)– Other countries (e.g., National Research Council)

• Produce monographs that are accessible to evidence-seeking planners & designers



Stranger in a Strange Land Louis G Tassinary, PhD, JD College of Architecture Texas A&M University...

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