Why Do Humans Respond So Well To Clean Spaces?

[Fanghawk]

Why Do Humans Respond So Well To Clean Spaces?

Take My Money's Trisha Hershberger joins DNews to discuss why humans seem much more effective in clean environments.

We can all probably agree nobody actually wants to clean up after themselves, especially within the comfort of your personal work space/trash pile. But researchers have noticed humans gain quite a bit from clean spaces, such as brightened moods, health benefits, and even moral improvement somehow. <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/take-my-money>Take My Money's Trisha Hershberger recently joined Trace Dominguez at DNews to discuss the topic, bringing some hard science to your mother's persistent reminders to tidy your room.

One of the coolest examples is a decade-long study based on the University of Pennsylvania's attempt to spruce up 4000 vacant lots. After making these spaces greener and tidier, researchers noted measurable drops in crime and stress levels, along with an increased number of people exercising. Other studies have shown similar effects on indoor spaces, prompting visitors to eat vegetables over junk food and donate to charity when asked. Even something basic like washing your hands can make you feel mentally calm.

Want to hear something really strange? Apparently clean digital spaces can encourage the same psychological effects. Humans are weird.

Which isn't to say a little messiness is so bad. In fact, studies suggest limited amounts of clutter can encourage creativity and unconventional thinking - provided it doesn't get so out of control as to trigger negative effects. It's certainly an interesting topic, and worth checking out the studies cited in the YouTube video description.

Want more videos from Trisha! No problem! Check out Take My Money or <a href=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGGEbYNrxNM&feature=youtu.be>her recent appearance on Test Tube News.

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[Baresark]

Eh, not exactly news in my opinion. There has been lots of studies on what they call civilizing effects. Cleanliness and generally caring about where you live has been studied significantly.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Clean spaces mean cleaner headspaces. Its just natural. I've got a huge issue with leaving my hard drives disorganized, and my own home is no different. I'm not pure OCD about it but I do detest seeing things not organized the way my mind needs them to be, and being married thats a never-ending war of headspace perspectives. Marriages are partial compromises when it comes to organization. I let her organize the clothes (not my strong suit) and I organize books, movies and games on shelves as well as the digital files. And the kitchen is the way she likes it despite both of us being culinary-inclined. I prefer her organization there anyway, mine is kind of haphazard which surprisingly does nothing to diminish my cooking skills. Its interesting how we both interact cohesively rather than at odds, but then I don't think we'd be together 10 years if it were any different.
Anyway, yeah clutter is not necessarily a good thing but a little here and there does make things work better. Its even more dynamic the more people who live in the same homespace. Too much though ends up destroying relationships and creates tension even in a single-person domicile.

 

[Callate]

That explains a lot about Japan. The only place I've ever seen someone cleaning the handrail of an escalator while it was in use.

Unfortunately, I may personally be doomed in this regard. My kitchen is tidy, my work-space... not so much.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

Less places for bugs to hide. Pretty good survival mechanism if you routinely took shelter in caves and under rock outcroppings. Clutter attracts danger from meaner scavengers and predators also.

I would also imagine this would heighten anger/fear and drive inclinations toward greater self preservation efforts.

 

[LongAndShort]

Yeah, this has been common academic thought since the 60s. I'd point anyone interested towards "Purity and Danger" by Mary Douglas which links modern ideas of cleanliness with religious ritual. Long story short, it's all about categorising our world.

 

[Smooth Operator]

We need to point out right from the start these are guesswork "studies", the situations and outcomes are wildly different and no real scientist would call a single part of this legitimate.
Much like the usual "We asked 10 people if they eat apples and have cancer, most of the people who ate apples didn't have cancer, ergo apples prevent cancer..."

It might as well be that the outcomes are what you designed them to be, people feeling comfortable in "tidy" places because that is what parents/TV/Movies always told them should be their response, and that they need to feel bad about messy places. And very very frequently people giving the answer expected of them in the moment, not what they really want to say.

 

[Vanilla ISIS]

I've got OCD so when a place isn't clean and tidy, I tend to get pissed off.