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Session 9: Noise and the environment Readings: Chapter 8 What is noise? How is it defined? How is it measured? What are the sources of noise? What are its effects on physiological functioning? What are its effects on performance and social behavior? How do individuals' differ on their responses to noise? These are some the questions discussed in this Chapter. In Chapter 5 you were introduced to some environmental stressors that effect human behavior. Noise is one of the most common and widely studied environmental stressor. The simplest definition of noise is unwanted sound. The measurement of sound is primarily based its physical properties. The normal human ear can hear between 20-20,000 cycles per second or hertz (Hz). Purity of sound is know by its timbre or tone quality. Sound waves also vary in height or amplitude experienced psychologically as loudness. There have been several studies on occupational noise or noise in the workplace. It is estimated that more than half of the production workers in the US are exposed to noise levels so high that hearing loss is likely. Your book discusses several consequences of noise in the workplace including the most logical effect-hearing loss. Some researchers have also suggested some proactive ways to deal with noise in the workplace and come up with specific recommendations. Other researchers have done laboratory studies to examine the effects of noise on a number of dependent variables including performance, problem solving and social behavior. Social psychologists have examined the relationship between noise and several social variables including helping, aggression, and attraction. There may be several individual differences in the perception of noise. Researchers have identified many individual level variables that may moderate the effects of noise. Some of these may include personality characteristics and gender. Finally, this chapter also briefly describes the noise and effects on legislation and the legal environment. Essays
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