Stimulation Theory

Define: Moderate levels of stimulation in the physical environment lead to positive human behavior. Both the stimulus itself and the meaning people construct regarding the stimulus are important; the concrete and the symbolic can both create positive behavior.
Hutchison, K. (2015). The physical environment. In The multiple dimensions of environment (7). Retrieved from
https://us.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/64461_Hutchison_Chapter_7.pdf

Apply: Physical environment is not something I immediately think of when I think of community development. But the setting of community meetings will matter, because it can influence participant behavior, according to this theory. For example, after my experience in the class so far this semester, I would always want to bring a breakfast food and coffee to a morning meeting. Both the stimulant of the taste of the items will lead to positive behavior, as well as the (hopefully) positive feeling of welcome and warmth that people will construct because of my action of bringing food and coffee.

Adapt: Architects may want to consider this theory when designing spaces. Things like sunlight, openness, comfortable seating, and/or low noise levels are probably going to be important to a building that will primarily be used as a meeting space. Keeping in mind that these stimulants should be at a moderate level for human behavior to be conducive to meetings would be a crucial step in designing and building a structure.