title: Health, supportive environments, and the Reasonable Person Model.
abstract: The Reasonable Person Model is a conceptual framework that links environmental factors with human behavior. People are more reasonable, cooperative, helpful, and satisfied when the environment supports their basic informational needs. The same environmental supports are important factors in enhancing human health. We use this framework to identify the informational requirements common to various health-promoting factors that are realizable through well-designed physical environments. Environmental attractors, support of way-finding, and facilitation of social interaction all contribute to the health-relevant themes of community, crime, and mode of transportation. In addition, the nearby natural environment, although often neglected, can serve as a remarkably effective resource.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D002958:City Planning; D018672:Community Health Planning; D003256:Community Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004779:Environment Design; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011634:Public Health; D012106:Research; D012944:Social Support