Human-plants relationship: a kaleidoscope of values and attitudes

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA E RICERCA SOCIALE
Author/s Paolo Diana, Maria Carmela Catone
Publishing Year 2019 Issue 2019/118
Language Italian Pages 23 P. 88-110 File size 273 KB
DOI 10.3280/SR2019-118005
DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation click here

Below, you can see the article first page

If you want to buy this article in PDF format, you can do it, following the instructions to buy download credits

Article preview

FrancoAngeli is member of Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), a not-for-profit association which run the CrossRef service enabling links to and from online scholarly content.

The connection between humans and plant care has been rather neglected in sociological research. However, in recent years, social sciences have started to pay more attention to this relationship and use it as a lens through which to view society and its changes. Starting with a theoretical overview of existing re-search on the role that plant care has on individuals at an educational, social and well-being level, this paper presents the results of a survey, based on a struc-tured questionnaire, carried out during the «Mostra della Minerva», a historical floriculture exhibition. The results allow the authors to understand the link be-tween individuals and the world of plants, and the system of values underlying this relationship.

  1. C. Alexander (2002), «The Garden as Occasional Domestic Space», Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, XXVII, 3, pp. 857-71.
  2. D. Armstrong (2000), «A Survey of Community Gardens in Upstate New York: Implications for Health Promotion and Community Development», Health & place, XI, 4, pp. 319-27.
  3. R. Ballantyne, J. Packer, K. Hughes (2008), «Environmental Awareness, Interests and Motives of Botanic Gardens Visitors: Implications for Interpretive Practice», Tourism Management, XXIX, 3, pp. 439-44.
  4. P.F. Barlett (2005), Reconnecting with Place: Faculty and the Piedmont project at Emory University, in P.F. Barlett (ed.), Urban Place: Reconnecting with the Natural World, Cambridge (MA), Mit Press.
  5. R. Bartoletti (2014), «Critical Nature: Regenerating Human Experience and Society through Gardening», Sociologia Italiana-Ais Journal of Sociology, III, pp. 9-33.
  6. R. Bartoletti, G. Cecchelin (2016), «Narratives and Practices of Nature in the City: Vegetable Gardens as Yard Gardens or Domestic Forests», Studi culturali, XIII, 1, pp. 39-60.
  7. J. Barton, R. Hine, J. Pretty (2009), «The Health Benefits of Walking in Greenspaces of High Natural and Heritage Value», Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, XI, 4, pp. 261-78.
  8. Z. Bauman (2013), Liquid Modernity, New York, John Wiley & Sons.
  9. Z. Bauman, T. May (2001), Thinking Sociologically, Oxford, Blackwell Publishers, 2nd ed.
  10. M. Bhatti (1999), The Meaning of Gardens in an Age of Risk, in T. Chapman, J. Hocky (eds.), Ideal Homes? Social Change and Domestic Life, London, Routledge.
  11. M. Bhatti (2006), «“When I’m in the Garden I can create my Own Paradise”: Homes and Gardens in Later Life», The Sociological Review, LIV, 2, pp. 318-41.
  12. M. Bhatti, A. Church (2001), «Cultivating Natures: Homes and gardens in Late Modernity», Sociology, XXXV, 2, pp. 365-83.
  13. M. Bhatti, A. Church, A. Claremont, P. Stenner (2009), «”I love being in the Garden”: Enchanting Encounters in Everyday Life», Social & Cultural Geography, X, 1, pp. 61-76.
  14. U. Beck (2004), Ulrich Beck: A Critical Introduction to Risk Society, London, Pluto Press.
  15. J. Bessière (1998), «Local Development and Heritage: Traditional Food and Cuisine as Tourist Attractions in Rural Areas», Sociologia Ruralis, XXXVIII, 1, pp. 21-34.
  16. P. Bourdieu (1972), Esquisse d’une théorie de la pratique, Genève, Droz.
  17. F. Cassano (2015), Il pensiero meridiano, Roma-Bari, Laterza.
  18. Censis-Coldiretti (2016), Rapporto «Gli italiani nell’orto», -- https://www.coldiretti.it/economia/consumi-coldiretti-20-mln-italiani-nellorto-1-su-4-per-cibo-sano.
  19. J. Clatworthy, J. Hinds, P.M. Camic (2013), «Gardening as a Mental Health Intervention: A Review», Mental Health Review Journal, XVIII, 4, pp. 214-25.
  20. S.D. Clayton (2003), Environmental Identity: A Conceptual and Operational Definition, in Clayton and Opotow (eds.) (2003).
  21. S.D. Clayton (2007), «Domesticated Nature: Motivations for Gardening and Perceptions of Environmental Impact», Journal of Environmental Psychology, XXVII, 3, pp. 215-24.
  22. S.D. Clayton, S. Opotow (eds.) (2003), Identity and the Natural Environment: The Psychological Significance of Nature, Cambridge (MA), Mit Press.
  23. P. Corvo, G. Fassino (a c. di) (2015), Quando il cibo si fa benessere: alimentazione e qualità della vita, Milano, FrancoAngeli.
  24. T. Crompton, T. Kasser (2009), Meeting Environmental Challenges: The Role of Human Identity, Godalming (UK), Wwf-UK.
  25. A. Demir (2012), «The Visitor Profile and Conservation Value of Royal Botanic Garden, Kew», Energy Education Science and Technology, Part B: Social and Educational Studies, pp. 1037-43.
  26. A. Demir (2014), «Determination of the Recreational Value of Botanic Gardens. A Case Study Royal Botanic Gardens», Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, XLIV, pp. 160-80.
  27. E. Diamant, A. Waterhouse (2010), «Gardening and Belonging: Reflections on how Social and Therapeutic Horticulture may facilitate Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion», British Journal of Occupational Therapy, LXXIII, 2, pp. 84-8.
  28. R.E. Dunlap, K.D. Van Liere (1978), «The “New Environmental Paradigm” », The Journal of Environmental Education, IX, 4, pp. 10-9.
  29. R.E. Dunlap, K.D. Van Liere, A.G. Mertig, R. Jones (2000), «New Trends in Measuring Environmental Attitudes: Measuring Endorsement of the New Ecological Paradigm: A Revised Nep Scale», Journal of Social Issues, LVI, 3, pp. 425-42.
  30. N. Dunnett, M. Qasim (2000), «Perceived Benefits to Human Well-being of Urban Gardens», HortTechnology, X, 1, pp. 40-5.
  31. D.D. Dutcher, J.C. Finley, A.E. Luloff, J.B. Johnson (2007), «Connectivity with Nature as a Measure of Environmental Values», Environment and Behavior, XXXIX, 4, pp. 474-93.
  32. M. Elings (2006), People-plant Interaction: The Physiological, Psychological and Sociological Effects of Plants on People, in J. Hassink, J. van Dijk, M. van Dijk (eds.) Farming for Health, Dordrecht (NL), Springer.
  33. J. Flagler (1995), «The Role of Horticulture in Training Correctional Youth», HortTechnology, V, 2, pp. 185-7.
  34. M. Francis, R.T. Hester (eds.) (1990), The Meaning of Gardens: Idea, Place, and Action, Cambridge (MA), Mit Press.
  35. C. Freeman, K.J. Dickinson, S. Porter, Y. van Heezik (2012), «“My Garden is an Expression of me”: Exploring Householders’ Relationships with Their Gardens», Journal of Environmental Psychology, XXXII, 2, pp. 135-43.
  36. H. Frumkin (2001), «Beyond Toxicity: Human Health and the Natural Environment», American Journal of Preventive Medicine, XX, 3, pp. 234-40.
  37. R. Ghose, M. Pettygrove (2014), «Urban Community Gardens as Spaces of Citizenship», Antipode, XLVI, 4, pp. 1092-12,
  38. T.D. Glover, D.C. Parry, K.J. Shinew (2005), «Building Relationships, Accessing Resources: Mobilizing Social Capital in Community Garden Contexts», Journal of Leisure Research, XXXVII, 4, pp. 50-474.
  39. M. Gold (1984), A History of Nature, in D. Massey, J. Allen (eds.), Geography Matters!, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
  40. M. Gooch (2003), «A Sense of Place: Ecological Identity as a Driver for Catchment Volunteering», Australian Journal on Volunteering, VIII, 2, pp. 23-32.
  41. G. Groening, U. Schneider (1999), Design versus Leisure: Social Implications of Functionalist Design in Urban Private Gardens of the Twentieth Century, in D. Crouch (ed.), Leisure/Tourism Geographies: Practices and Geographical Knowledge, London, Routledge.
  42. E. Gullone (2000), «The Biophilia Hypothesis Life in the 21st Century: Increasing Mental Health or Increasing Pathology?», Journal of Happiness Studies, I, pp. 293-321.
  43. A. Naess (1989), Ecology, Community, and Lifestyle, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
  44. G.A. Hamann, I. Ivtzan (2016), «30 Minutes in Nature a Day can increase Mood, Well-being, Meaning in Life and Mindfulness: Effects of a Pilot Programme», Social Inquiry into Well-being, II, 2, pp. 34-46.
  45. S.L. Hamilton, K. DeMarrais (2001), «Visits to Public Gardens: Their Meaning for avid Gardeners», HortTechnology, XI, 2, pp. 209-215.
  46. P. Hondagneu-Sotelo (2010), «Cultivating Questions for a Sociology of Gardens», Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, XXXIX, 5, pp. 498-516, DOI: 10.1177/0891241610376069
  47. H. Hotelling (1933), «Analysis of a Complex of Statistical Variables into Principal Components», Journal of Educational Psychology, XXIV, 6, pp. 417-41.
  48. R. Kaplan (1992), The Psychological Benefits of Nearby Nature, in D. Relf (ed.), The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development, Portland, Timber Press.
  49. S. Kaplan (1995), «The Restorative Benefits of Nature: Toward an Integrative Framework», Journal of Environmental Psychology, XV, pp. 169-82.
  50. R. Kaplan (2001), «The Nature of the View from Home: Psychological Benefits», Environment and behavior, XXXIII, 4, pp. 507-42.
  51. R. Kaplan, S. Kaplan (1990), Restorative Experience: The Healing Power of Nearby Nature, in M. Francis, R.T. Hester (eds.), The Meaning of Gardens, Cambridge (MA), Mit Press.
  52. L. Kaufman, P.J. Rousseeuw (2009), Finding Groups in Data: An Introduction to Cluster Analysis, New York, John Wiley & Sons.
  53. S.H. Kellert (1993), The Biological Basis for Human Values of Nature, in S.H. Kellert, E.O. Wilson (eds.), The Biophilia Hypothesis, Washington DC, Island Press.
  54. S.R. Kellert, E.O. Wilson (eds.) (1993), The Biophilia Hypothesis, Washington DC, Island Press.
  55. J. Keulartz, S. Swart, H. Van Der Windt (2000), Nature Images and Nature Policy. Nwo Ethiek & Beleid, The Hague, Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (Nwo).
  56. F.M. Kiesling, C.M. Manning (2010), «How Green is Your Thumb? Environmental Gardening Identity and Ecological Gardening Practices», Journal of Environmental Psychology, XXX, 3, pp. 315-27.
  57. V.Y. Kuzevanov, S.V. Sizykh (2006), «Botanic Gardens Resources: Tangible and Intangible Aspects of linking Biodiversity and Human Well-being», Hiroshima Peace Science, XXVIII, pp. 113-34.
  58. R. Leaver, T. Wiseman (2016), «Garden Visiting as a Meaningful Occupation for People in Later Life», British Journal of Occupational Therapy, LXXIX, 12, pp. 768-75.
  59. M.S. Lee, J. Lee, B.J. Park, Y. Miyazaki (2015), «Interaction with Indoor Plants may reduce Psychological and Physiological Stress by suppressing Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Young Adults: A Randomized Crossover Study», Journal of Physiological Anthropology, XXXIV, 1, p. 21,
  60. C.A. Lewis (1996), Green Nature/Human Nature: The Meaning of Plants in Our Lives, Urbana, University of Illinois Press.
  61. LifeGate and Eumetra Monterosa (2017), Report «Terzo Osservatorio nazionale sullo stile di vita sostenibile», http://corporatesponsorship.unipol.it/sites/corporate/files/event_related_documents/lifegate_3osservatorio_report.pdf.
  62. R. Lumber, M. Richardson, D. Sheffield (2017), «Beyond knowing Nature: Contact, Emotion, Compassion, Meaning, and Beauty are Pathways to Nature Connection», PloS one, XII, 5.
  63. F.S. Mayer, C.M. Frantz (2004) «The Connectedness to Nature Scale: A Measure of Individuals’ Feeling in Community with Nature», Journal of Environmental Psychology, XXIV, 4, pp. 503-15,
  64. C. McGuinn, P.D. Relf (2001), «A Profile of Juvenile Offenders in a Vocational Horticulture Curriculum», HortTechnology, 11, 3, pp. 427-33.
  65. E.K. Nisbet, J.M. Zelenski, S.A. Murphy (2011), «Happiness is in Our Nature: Exploring Nature Relatedness as a Contributor to Subjective Well-being», Journal of Happiness Studies, XII, pp. 303-322,
  66. C. Olwell (1990), Gardening from the Heart: Why Gardeners garden, Berkley (CA), Antelope Island Press.
  67. K. Pearson (1901), «On Lines and Planes of Closest Fit to Systems of Points in Space», The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, II, 11, pp. 559-72.
  68. J. Pollini (2013), «Bruno Latour and the Ontological Dissolution of Nature in the Social Sciences: A Critical Review», Environmental Values, XXII,1, pp. 25-42.
  69. M. Richardson, J. Hallam, R. Lumber (2015), «One Thousand Good Things in Nature: Aspects of Nearby Nature Associated with Improved Connection to Nature», Environmental Values, XXIV, 5, pp. 603-19.
  70. P.W. Schultz (2000), «Empathising with Nature: The Effects of Perspective taking on Concern for Environmental Issues», Journal of Social Issues, LVI, pp. 391-406.
  71. P.W. Schultz, C. Shriver, J.J. Tabanico, A.M. Khazian (2004), «Implicit Connections with Nature», Journal of Environmental Psychology, XXIV, 1, pp. 31-42.
  72. T.L. Scott, B.M. Masser, N.A. Pachana (2015), «Exploring the Health and Wellbeing Benefits of gardening for Older Adults», Ageing & Society, XXXV, 10, pp. 2176-200.
  73. B. Shepard (2009), Community Gardens, Convivial Spaces, and the Seeds of a Radical Democratic Counterpublic, in H. Gautney, O. Dahbour, A. Dawson, N. Smith (eds.), Democracy, States, and the Struggle for Global Justice, New York, Routledge.
  74. P.C. Stern (2000), «New Environmental Theories: Toward a Coherent Theory of Environ-mentally Significant Behavior», Journal of Social Issues, LVI, 3, pp. 407-24.
  75. P.C. Stern, T. Dietz (1994), «The Value Basis of Environmental Concern», Journal of Social Issues, L, pp. 65-84.
  76. M. Thomashow (1995), Ecological Identity: Becoming a Reflective Environmentalist, Cambridge (MA), Mit Press.
  77. M. Thomashow (2001), Bringing the Biosphere Home: Learning to perceive Global Environmental Change, Cambridge (MA), Mit Press.
  78. E.L. Van Bueren, P.C. Struik (2004), «The Consequences of the Concept of Naturalness for Organic Plant Breeding and Propagation», Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, LII, 1, pp. 85-95.
  79. H. Verhoog, M. Matze, E.L. Van Bueren, T. Baars (2003), «The Role of the Concept of the Natural (Naturalness) in Organic Farming», Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, LII, 1, pp. 29-49.
  80. J. Webber, J. Hinds, P.M. Camic (2015), «The Well-being of Allotment Gardeners: A Mixed Methodological Study», Ecopsychology, VII, 1, pp. 20-28,
  81. E.O. Wilson (1984), Biophilia, Cambridge, Harvard University Press.
  82. S.J. Williams, P. Julia, G. Jones, J.M. Gibbons, C. Clubbe (2015), «Botanic Gardens can positively influence Visitors’ Environmental Attitudes», Biodiversity & Conservation, XXIV, 7, pp. 1609-20.
  83. J. Willison (1997), Botanic Gardens as Agents for Social Change, in D.H. Touchell, K.W. Dixon (eds.), Kings Park and Botanic Garden Conservation into the 21st Century: Proceedings of the Fourth International Botanical Gardens Conservation Congress, Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth (Western Australia), pp. 339-44.
  84. S. Zavestoski (2003), Constructing and Maintaining Ecological Identities: The Strategies of Deep Ecologists, in Clayton and Opotow (eds.) (2003).

Paolo Diana, Maria Carmela Catone, Human-plants relationship: a kaleidoscope of values and attitudes in "SOCIOLOGIA E RICERCA SOCIALE " 118/2019, pp 88-110, DOI: 10.3280/SR2019-118005