Psychology of Light: How Light Influences the Health and Psyche

Abstract

Light is the stimulus that influences most the human perception, but also the psychophysical well-being of the individual in everyday life. This paper analyzes the light from a psychological point of view, investigating the relationships between light-based emotions and behaviours, and the psychophysical responses to lit environment by the perceivers in different experiential contexts. Light becomes, therefore, “Cognitive Map” and “Emotional Driver”, but also a “Gestaltic Device” for the perceiver, in order to understand and interpret the external reality. Even the dark and lighting deprivation were considered, not only as environmental conditioning on the mood (Fusco, 2005a), but also through the psychological analysis of specific light manipulation techniques, such as “Sendep” and “Ganzfeld Effect”. Finally, some guidelines were shown to improve health and wellness of the individual exposed to the light in a given environment (healthy lighting), getting to define an “Ecological” approach to light and lighting perception in human life, that would also involve some light-based techniques, such as Light Design and Light Art.