Introduction

For my research paper I chose for my occupation Environmental Psychologist. An environmental psychologist is the interplay and study between humans and their environment. Environmental psychologists study how people’s surroundings affect their behavior with the surrounding plants and outdoor environment. Environmental psychology is based on the designs of architecture, landscape architecture and planning; they use their detailed planning, designs, and skills in office buildings, parks, and cities.  Environmental psychologists   usually work in teams with other professionals like architects, urban planners and designers to create buildings that help make stress free environments for people and to create a "green" environment. The book of Design and Architecture has also been morphed to form ideas and plans to create plans that improved human behavior. Because of growing popularity of the relationships between people’s behavior and their attitudes towards the physical environment more and more people want to go to colleges and universities to study and research this wide range subject. (Agnew 2009, 1). Working with individuals, psychologists may work with large companies and organizations to improve workplace productivity or employee satisfaction,and may also conduct research, publish papers, and give speeches to support the idea of a stress free environment.

Findings

The main purpose of environmental psychology is to help professionals such as architects,  interior designers, and urban planners to help improve the environment on both what is known as micro and macro levels. The micro level is the personal level of environmental psychology pointed to a person's personal home. This personal level can give a home a warm living condition and a sense of security and well being for those who understand environmental psychology. People can design the interior of their homes and home decorate to provide a good sensation for those selling their homes on the market and reaching a higher price to sell quickly. While the micro level is more personal to a person's home, the macro level goes to a bigger part and idea of environmental psychology. This idea is to build and bring people from their cities or communities to function together more efficiently and to build common places so that it will bring everyone in the community more close together and to enjoy each other's presence and to enjoy their community. Environmental psychology is a scientific collection of concepts to contribute to make a better place for people to live and for future generations to come (Fisher 2007, 3).  Environmental psychologists are not only people who help the environment but also people who believe "...that protecting, building and creating a 'preferred environment' increases a sense of well-being in a human being and facilitates behavioral effectiveness" (Smith 2011). These are the theories that if people are enjoying their lives and jobs, then their surroundings and behavior with others in their environment will be stress free, and that soon more buildings will be more natural and green to the environment. All of these plans and ideas are possible in homes and offices, in schools, and public buildings, with natural ventilation, the proper lighting, with plants, interesting colors, shapes and views (Smith 2007, 2). 

Environmental psychology is a wide range subject that consists of several different certifications. This study occupies the factors of the environment from environmentalists to the psychology of people and what they think. Our environment as human beings on earth changed radically as people changed latitudes; light and temperatures varied in radically in these environments. Some environmental psychologists specialize in different environments. There are some environmental psychologists that also specialize in a "green" occupation or a conservative way of keeping the earth and its environments from pollution and the destroying of environments by people misusing our resources from the earth like natural gases and fossil fuels (Mathew 2001, 3).  On the other hand there are a numerous amount of environmental psychologists that can major in psychology whether it may be child psychology, adult psychology, or animal psychology. Psychology has a big effect on environmental psychology due to its great understanding of the human brain and great understanding of people’s actions and their interactions with other people, animals, and their environment. These are the great reasons why environmentalists and psychologists are needed greatly for this study which require bachelor’s degrees, a master's degree, and also a doctorate in psychology in these specialized areas and subjects.

There are also, a numerous amount of colleges and universities that offer the study and research of environmental psychology that can be found throughout the United States of America, but also in many different countries in the world like England and Germany for example. Some colleges and universities that offer the study of environmental psychology in the U.S. include Kaplan University, Southern New Hampshire University, Walden University, Ashford University, Arizona State University, Liberty University, Northcentral University, Grand Canyon University, Brandman University, Baker College, Colorado Technical University, Saint Joseph's University, Ashworth College, and American Intercontinental University. These are some of the best colleges and universities that offer this study. To learn to become an environmental psychologist the minimum eligibility requirements for most schools require that the applicant is a high school graduate with a high school diploma or have completed GED, must be a permanent resident or citizen of the U.S., must have some college credit or have completed some college, and must be over the age of 18 years. The average costs of these schools can vary from $35,000 to $85,000 dollars (Anonymous C 2011, 2). However, there are other colleges and universities that offer the same studies that are located in mostly Europe. One of the best schools that studies environmental psychology that are found in Europe are in England. One of these schools is Oxford University which puts much time and research to contribute to the study of environmental psychology. Foreign schools, however, have a much higher cost for attending these schools due to traveling, currency change, and living conditions (Anonymous A 2007, 2).

Even though, the costs for these colleges and universities may high because of the poor condition of the economy for people, the salary of environmental psychologists can reach levels of very good quality money that can be used to pay off school depts quite fast. According to many surveys, there are four different salary types for environmental psychologists. The salary for environmental psychologists can widely range from employer, but the beginning salary of this occupation right out of college or a university averages to roughly about $65,000; most stay at a salary of $65,000 for at least 5 to 10 years before their salary increases. The median salary of environmental psychologists averages to $90,000 and the high salaries range from $100,000 and up (Anonymous B 2011, 1). Although many people learn to be environmental psychologists and have their living off of that, but there are some people who volunteer as environmental psychologists on small projects in programs that are non-benefit. The volunteers are the ones who really put their hearts into making the world a greener place and research and work on environmental issues (Novotney 2009, 4).

In our future, we are headed into a world of corruption and disaster as the world’s economy gets worse and worse. A big part of this terrible future is due to our continual use of the world’s resources and fossil fuels, increasing climate change, and increasing crime rate. Environmental psychologists have studied, researched and have come to the conclusion that people's environments, mainly in big cities, have caused a great increase in stress levels in the past 20 years. This stress increase has caused a increase in the crime rate by more than 20%, has increased the population, has increased the suicide rate, and has increased the number of chances of divorce in marriages (Young 1999, 3). Our next source of energy will be found in solar power, wind power, electric power, and new other sources of energy yet to be discovered. To build this future the demand for environmental psychologists will greatly increase in numbers. This increase for psychologists is predicted to rise up to 18% within the next decade. Environmental psychologists with a doctorate are to have more favorable prospects, then those who only have a bachelor's degree that may have more trouble finding a position. Architectures, building designers, and even landscapers will need environmental psychologists to help build buildings and environments that will be more "green" and create stress free lives for people and bring down the crime rate so the environment will be better and people’s behavior towards each other and the environment will be better (Evans 1996, 2).

Conclusion 

Being an environmental psychologist clearly takes a lot of hard work, perseverance, and heart to make our environment a better place. Environmental psychology is an occupation that can bring the behavior of people from bad toward the better good of mankind and to focus on environmental issues. Environmental psychology is an idea using techniques and concepts to bring better feelings to those who are going through much stress and better conditions to have a stress free environment so that we will have a better workplace and even more importantly a better community.

There are numerous pros and cons for being an environmental psychologist. Some of the cons or bad things for being an environmental psychologist are that if you want to be one you must attend around 6 to 8 years at a college or university which is a very long time to spend school to achieve a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and a doctorate in psychology. The cost to attend a college or university too is going to be extraordinarily high and it will take years to pay of school depts. Also if you find architecture and designing boring, unlike me, then this job is not for you because you will be working with architectures and designers a great deal. The pros, however, will be the fabulous pay of $90,000 and more to have a good life. The great up sides of being environmental psychologists is the great experience to work with other people and travel. The best part is that there will always be work and also to know that you are working hard for the better good of humanity. These reasons are why there will always be a need for environmental psychologists in the world for decades to come!