Biography
Teaching interests/courses taught
PSYCH100: Introduction to Psychology
PSYCH144z: Climate Change: Individual Behavior and Group Attitudes
PSYCH301W: Basic Research Methods in Psychology
PSYCH407: Advanced Research Methods in Psychology
PSYCH408: Program Evaluation
PSYCH424: Applied Social Psychology
PSYCH434: Psychology of Gaming
Selected Awards, Grants, and Other Honors
2020 Faculty Outreach Award (University-wide)
2014 Outstanding Teacher Aware for Tenure Line Faculty (Penn State Abington)
“Expanding the Summer College Immersion Program” (2021). Organization: William Penn Foundation, Role: PI (2 years).
“Development of Visitor-based acoustical and night sky indicators and standards” (2017). Organization: National Park Service, Role: Co-PI (2 years).
“A systematic evaluation of the Reimagining the Civic Commons park renovations” (2016). Organization: William Penn Foundation, Role: Co-PI. (3 years + 2-year extension).
“Healthy parks, healthy people” (2016). Organization: Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment, Role: Team Member (1 year).
“A systematic evaluation of park renovations at Fairmount Park East Parkside – Phase 2” (2015). Organization: William Penn Foundation, Role: Co-Investigator (2 years).
“Healthy Parks, Healthy People” (2015). Organization: Penn State Institute for Energy and the Environment partnered with the Social Science Research Institutes, Role: Team Member (1 year).
“Soundscape-induced psychology and biobehavioral stress recovery.” Organization: Social Science Research Institute, Research Collaborative Fellowship (2014), Role: PI (1 year)
Outstanding Teacher Award for Tenure Line Faculty, Penn State University-Abington 2014
Research Interests
Social-Environmental Psychology, environmental stressors (noise, light pollution), resource and recreation management, restorative environments.
Publications
Freeman, S.E., Taff, B.D., Lawhon, B., Benfield, J.A., & Newman, P. (In Press). The impact of persuasive communications on wildlife approach during ungulate viewing experiences in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Journal of Interpretation Research.
Browning, H.E.M., Li, H., Rigolon, A., Larson, L.R., Taff, D., Labib, S.M., Benfield, J.A., Yuan, S., McAnirlin, O., Hatami, N., Kahn, P.H. (2022). Beyond “bluespace” and “greenspace”: A narrative review of possible health benefits from exposure to other natural landscapes. Science of the Total Environment, 159292.
Browning, M.H.E.M, Li, D., White, M.P., Bratman, G.N., Becker, D., & Benfield, J.A. (2022). Association between residential greenness during childhood and emotional intelligence during young adulthood: A retrospective life course analysis in the United States. Health and Place, 74, 1027-1055.
Kim, J., Baker, B.L., Pitas, N.A., Benfield, J.A., Hickerson, B.D., & Mowen, A.J. (2022). Perceived ownership of urban parks: The role of the social environment. Journal of Leisure Research, 53(3), 450-472.
Freeman, S., Taff, B.D., Miller, Z.D., Benfield, J.A., & Newman, P. (2021). Acceptability factors for wildlife approach in park and protected area settings. Journal of Environmental Management, 286, 1-9.
Powers, S.L., Graefe, A.R., Benfield, J.A., Hickerson, B., Baker, B.L., Mullenbach, L.E., & Mowen, A.J. (2021). Exploring the conditions that promote intergroup contact in urban parks. Journal of Leisure Research, 1-24.
Benfield, J.A., Rainbolt, G.A., Troup, L.J., & Bell, P.A. (2020). Anthropogenic noise source and intensity effects on mood and relaxation in simulated park environments. Frontiers in Psychology: Environmental Psychology.
Coleman, S.R.M., Bernstein, M.J., Benfield, J.A., & Smyth, J.M. (2020). Narcissistic grandiosity and risky health behaviors in college students. Journal of American College Health.
Mullenbach, L.E., Baker, B.L., Benfield, J.A., Hickerson, B., & Mowen, A.J. (2019). Assessing the relationship between community engagement and perceived ownership of an urban park in Philadelphia. Journal of Leisure Research, 50(3), 201-219.
Taff, B.D., Benfield, J.A., Miller, Z., D’Antonio, A, Schwartz, F. (2019). The role of tourism impacts on cultural ecosystem services. Environments, 6(4), 43-55.
Benfield, J.A., Nutt, R.J., Taff, B.D., Miller, Z.D., Costigan, H., & Newman, P. (2018). A laboratory study of the psychological impact of light pollution in national parks. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 57, 67-72.
Benfield, J., Taff, B. D., Weinzimmer, D., & Newman, P. (2018). Motorized recreation sounds influence nature scene evaluations: The role of attitude moderators. Frontiers in Psychology, 9.
Bernstein, M.J., Zawadzki, M., Juth, V., Benfield, J.A., & Smyth, J. (2018). Social interaction in daily life: Within-person associations between momentary social experiences and psychological and physical health indicators. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 35(3), 372-394.
Benfield, J.A., Rainbolt, G.A., Bell, P.A., & Donovan, G. (2015). Classrooms with nature views: Evidence of differing student perceptions and behaviors. Environment and Behavior.
Benfield, J.A., Taff, B.D., Newman, P., & Smyth, J. (2014). Natural sound facilitates mood recovery from stress. Ecopsychology.
Benfield, J.A., Nurse, G., Jakubowski, R., Gibson, A., Taft, D., Newman, P., et al. (2014). Testing noise in the field: A brief measure of individual noise sensitivity. Environment and Behavior, 46(3), 353-372.
Nurse, G., Benfield, J.A., & Loomis, R.J. (2012). Self-report behavior mapping as a tool for gallery movement evaluation. Visitor Studies, 15(2), 203-216.
Rainbolt, G.N., Benfield, J.A., & Bell, P.A. (2012). The influence of anthropogenic sound in historical parks: Implications for park management. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 30(4), 53-65.
Nurse, G., Benfield, J.A., & Bell, P.A. (2011). New implications for wildlife loss evaluation: The role of subjective predictors. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 16(2), 87-99.
Benfield, J.A., Bell, P.A., Troup, L.J., & Soderstrom, N.C. (2010). Does anthropogenic noise in national parks impair memory? Environment and Behavior, 42(5), 693-706.
Benfield, J.A., Bell, P.A., Troup, L.J., & Soderstrom, N.C. (2010). Aesthetic and affective effects of vocal and traffic noise on natural landscape assessment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30, 103-111.
‡Indicates a student co-authored paper
Education
Ph.D. Colorado State University, Applied Social Psychology, 2008
M.S. Colorado State University, Applied Social Psychology, 2006
B.S. Colorado State University, Psychology and Sociology, 2003