CEN Lecture: Eleanor Ratcliffe – The psychological benefits of listening to birdsong

The psychological benefits of listening to birdsong

Why do we like the sound of birds singing? It is a question so simple, and about such an everyday topic, that we do not often give it deep thought. Birdsong makes us happy, you might think, in the same way that sunny days and long weekends do. But underneath the surface of this topic are deeper insights about what matters to us most as human beings. The songs of some birds make us happier and calmer than others, and some stir strong, even bittersweet, emotions about significant people, places, and times of life – real and imagined. Birdsong not only affects our mood; it connects us socially, inspires us artistically, and calls us to recognise the intrinsic value of the natural environment upon which we all depend.

In this talk I will present key findings from more than 10 years of my own research in this area of environmental psychology, along with important findings from other scholars in the soundscapes community. I will also highlight some open questions that could help us to a) better understand the mechanisms through which nature experience supports psychological wellbeing, including opportunities for greater collaboration between environmental psychologists and environmental neuroscientists; and b) better consider the roles of individual differences and personal experiences in such mechanisms.

Dr Eleanor (Ellie) Ratcliffe is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Psychology at University of Surrey, and a British Academy Innovation Fellow (2024/25). Ellie’s research focuses on connections between the physical environment and human wellbeing, and especially the role of nature and place attachment in supporting positive psychological outcomes. Ellie is programme lead for MSc Environmental Psychology at University of Surrey, and she is a Board member of the International Association of People-Environment Studies (IAPS).

Join at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, or online via Webex:
https://mpib-berlin.webex.com/mpib-berlin/j.php?MTID=maff3dee0ad54cb921191ff33d0b92347

Meeting number: 2744 645 6180

Password: ArpQMePJ352