Elizabeth Nisbet Profile

Elizabeth (Lisa) Nisbet
Associate Professor

M.A., Ph.D. (Carleton University)

Office: DNA C128

Phone: 705-748-1011 ext. 7855

Research interests:

My research focuses on individual differences in subjective connectedness with nature (nature relatedness or NR) and the links with health, well-being (happiness), and environmentally sustainable behaviour. Some of the research questions I am investigation are: 1) How does nature contact and exposure to nature images influence human psychological and physical health (e.g., well-being, happiness, stress and coping); 2) What are the consequences of disconnection from nature for environmental decision-making and sustainable behaviours; 3) What are the personality correlates (e.g., materialism, Big 5, self-concept/identity) of nature relatedness and how do life experiences shape NR (e.g., growing up in urban/rural environments); 4) How malleable is connectedness and what interventions influence nature relatedness (e.g., environmental education, nature experiences, virtual immersion).

Teaching:

PSYC 3420H-A FA PTBO: Motivation and Emotion
PSYC 3770H-A FA PTBO: Environmental Psychology
PSYC 3420H-A WI PTBO: Motivation and Emotion
PSYC 3750H-A WI PTBO: Health Psychology

Selected publications:

Nisbet, E.K., & Zelenski, J.M. (2013). The NR-6: A new brief new measure of nature relatedness. Frontiers in Psychology: Personality Science and Individual Differences, 1-11. Published online before print, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00813

Zelenski, J.M., & Nisbet, E.K. (2012). Happiness and feeling connected: The distinct role of nature relatedness. Environment and Behavior. Published online before print, doi: 10.1177/0013916512451901

Nisbet, E.K., & Zelenski, J.M. (2011). Underestimating nearby nature: Affective forecasting errors obscure the happy path to sustainability. Psychological Science, 22(9), 1101-1106.

Nisbet, E.K., Zelenski, J.M. & Murphy, S.A. (2011). Happiness is in our nature: Exploring nature relatedness as a contributor to subjective well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 303-322, doi: 10.1007/s10902-010-9197-7

Nisbet, E.K., Zelenski, J.M., & Murphy, S.A. (2009). The Nature Relatedness Scale: Linking individuals’ connection with nature to environmental concern and behavior. Environment and Behavior, 41, 715-740.

Nisbet, E.K., & Gick, M.L. (2008). Can health psychology help the planet? Applying theory and models of health behaviour to environmental action. Canadian Psychology, 49, 296-303.

Join the Lab!

Opportunities are available for bright, motivated, and responsible students to work in the lab and gain experience in psychological research. Please email Dr. Nisbet if you are interested.