Staff profile

My Research

My research focuses on the ways in which people become more connected to the world around them so that they can “be good” (wellbeing and flourishing) and “do good” (engaging in "pro-collective" behavior). Thus, my research tends to have three areas of focus:

Spending Time in Nature

• What happens when we spend time in nature? 
• How can we make outdoor experiences more impactful? 
• Can we harness experiences in nature to promote "pro-collective" outcomes?

Feeling Connected to Nature

• Which experiences make us feel more connected to nature (and why)? 
• What outcomes stem from feeling more connected to nature?
• How can we promote more positive human–nature relationships?

Protecting Nature & Valuing Nature

• What things predict people’s treatment of nature?
• How do pro-environmental values influence pro-environmental behaviors?
• How can we promote more sustainable lifestyle choices?
• How do people think about conservation and sustainability?

Potential Projects for Prospective Students

I am very interested in supervising doctoral research projects. Some topics I have in mind include (but are not limited to):

• Investigating how emotionally impactful experiences impact our relationship with nature/our nature connectedness.
• Investigating nature connectedness and relational environmental values as key predictors of pro-environmental outcomes.
• Using network analysis and multi-level modelling to understand public transportation behaviors.

Research Lenses

Ultimately, my research is informed by three broad lenses: environmental psychology, social psychology, and positive psychology.

Environmental Psychology

Being interested in connectedness to nature and pro-environmental behavior, my research is best characterized as environmental psychology. So my research (and teaching) often has a heavy slant toward the environment and sustainability.

However…

Social Psychology

…I am trained as a social psychologist. So, my work often includes ideas borrowed from social psychology. For example, in my research I have drawn on theories of close interpersonal relationships, theories of self-awareness, and theories of positive emotions, to name a few. 

In many ways, my research is simply applied social psychology and some of my studies have included social parallels (e.g., connectedness to humanity) to the environmental phenomena I study.

But…

Positive Psychology

…My work is also heavily informed by positive psychology. I tend to focus on the role of “meaningful affective experiences” (e.g., awe, meaning and purpose in life, growth and authenticity, curiosity, nostalgia, etc.) and how they contribute to a sense of connectedness. 

In addition to “doing good” (e.g., pro-environmental behavior) I am also interested in “being good” and focus on wellbeing as an outcome of outdoor experiences, in particular.

• Connectedness to nature
• Outdoor experiences
• Pro-environmental behavior
• Pro-environmental values
• Wellbeing

Chapter in book

• Lengieza, M. L., Aviste, R., & Swim, J. K. (2023). Connectedness to Nature Through Outdoor Environmental Education: Insights from Psychology. . Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29257-6_4

Journal Article

• Swim, J. K., Guerriero, J. G., Gasper, K., DeCoster, J., & Lengieza, M. L. (2024). Emotions and policy information predicting water-quality policy support. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 98, Article 102385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102385
• Lengieza, M. L. (2024). Eudaimonic self-expansion: The effects of eudaimonic reflections on nature connectedness. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 94, Article 102231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102231
• Swim, J. K., Guerriero, J. G., Lengieza, M. L., & Cameron, C. D. (2023). The Effects of Stereotypes About Animals’ Competence and Warmth on Empathy Choice. Anthrozoös, 36(6), 1061-1077. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2023.2248763
• Lengieza, M. L., Aviste, R., & Swim, J. K. (2023). Nature as community: An overlooked predictor of pro-environmental intentions. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 91, Article 102127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102127
• Lengieza, M. L., Aviste, R., & Richardson, M. (2023). The Human–Nature Relationship as a Tangible Target for Pro-Environmental Behaviour—Guidance from Interpersonal Relationships. Sustainability, 15(16), Article 12175. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612175
• Lengieza, M. L., Hunt, C. A., & Swim, J. K. (2023). Ecotourism, eudaimonia, and sustainability insights. Journal of Ecotourism, 22(1), 43-58. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2021.2024215
• Lengieza, M. L., & Swim, J. K. (2021). Diminished Public Self-Awareness in Nature Contributes to the Positive Effects of Contact with Nature on Connectedness to Nature. Ecopsychology, 13(3), 210-218. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2020.0047
• Lengieza, M. L., Swim, J. K., & Hunt, C. A. (2021). Effects of post-trip eudaimonic reflections on affect, self-transcendence and philanthropy. The Service Industries Journal, 41(3-4), 285-306. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2019.1636966
• Lengieza, M. L., & Swim, J. K. (2021). The Paths to Connectedness: A Review of the Antecedents of Connectedness to Nature. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 763231. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.763231
• Lengieza, M. L., Hunt, C. A., & Swim, J. K. (2020). Travel-induced learning: a validation of the sustainability insight scale. Current Issues in Tourism, 23(8), 938-941. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2019.1584160
• Lengieza, M. L., Hunt, C. A., & Swim, J. K. (2019). Measuring eudaimonic travel experiences. Annals of Tourism Research, 74, 195-197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2018.05.002