The Psychology of the Overview Effect

The 'Overview Effect': A Profound Perspective

The 'Overview Effect,' coined by space philosopher Frank White, encapsulates the extraordinary experience of witnessing our home planet from space. This perspective, as revealed through interviews with astronauts, bestows a unique psychological signature. Astronaut diaries, interviews, and autobiographies consistently narrate a profound sense of interconnectedness with all life, a transformative shift in self-perception, and a renewed sense of purpose. Sigmund Freud termed this subjective interconnectedness the 'oceanic feeling,' signifying a sense of eternity and unity with the natural world.

While only a little over 630 people have had the privilege of this unique encounter, many of us can relate to feelings of awe and reverence when encountering terrestrial natural wonders like a tornado or the Grand Canyon from afar. The 'Overview Effect' embodies the epitome of such experiences.

Navigating the Human Ego

The human ego operates tirelessly, generating an average of anywhere between 90,000 - 140,000 daily thoughts. Unregulated thinking can give rise to unhelpful thought patterns and mental distress. To liberate ourselves from cognitive clutter, we must organize our thoughts and break free from the chains of maladaptive overthinking.

Escapism, both healthy and unhealthy, is a natural response to the human condition. While unhealthy escapism includes addiction and dependence, healthier alternatives encompass activities like extreme sports and meditation. This is where virtual reality, used in controlled and ethical ways, can be used as part of a comprehensive therapy plan to support people experiencing anxious or depressive thinking.

My Journey: Psychology Research with NASA Astronauts

In 2012, my psychology doctoral research embarked on exploring the therapeutic potential of the 'Overview Effect.' I interviewed seven retired NASA astronauts to delve into their Earth-gazing experiences and the psychological and behavioral shifts they underwent. The research sought to deepen our comprehension of Earth gazing, examine astronauts' philosophical and emotional perspectives, explore their post-flight experiences, and uncover differences and commonalities between their accounts.

Three fundamental themes emerged: 1) Profound Perceptions of Earth, 2) Emotional Impact and Contemplation, and 3) Post-Flight Embodiment. Earth gazing was undeniably meaningful, fostering a stronger connection between astronauts and Earth and evoking emotions like reverence and gratitude, associated with eudaimonic well-being. Moreover, the 'Overview Effect' unveiled additional dimensions relevant to psychological therapy, including existential contemplation, cognitive dissonance, and comfort zone expansion.

A Leap to Transformative Therapy

My research reinforced the belief that we can translate elements of the 'Overview Effect' into digital therapies and VR workshops, aiming to:

1. Alleviate stress
2. Enhance interconnectedness
3. Promote shifts in self-perception

Applications to Practice

The 'Overview Effect' emerges as a transformative experience capable of nurturing positive emotions and deepening our connection to nature and humanity.

Positive technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR), provide interactive systems for targeted psychological and behavioral change. VR interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in pain management, anxiety reduction, mindfulness promotion, and skill enhancement across various conditions. We can tap into these technologies to recreate aspects of profound experiences like the Overview Effect with the aim of exploring the associated risks and benefits to the mental health of doing so.

My Research and the Birth of EarthscapeVR

Following the completion of my psychology doctoral studies in 2017, I dedicated myself to refining my research findings, shaping a psychological model, and developing a therapeutic technique. Recognizing the pivotal role of the 'Overview Effect' in ecotherapy, I co-founded 'EarthscapeVR' with my colleague Charlie Perring in 2019.

EarthscapeVR recreates facets of the 'Overview Effect' and other extraordinary nature-based experiences through VR, harnessing their associated benefits.

Our programs are truly unique, they weave together comprehensive workshops and training that are based on psychological principles with virtual reality experiences that combine Buddhist meditation practices, awe-inspiring natural landscapes, binaural beats, and captivating soundscapes.

Our VR interventions aim to evoke optimal arousal, quieten cognitive chatter, and facilitate emotional training and cognitive restructuring. We continue to carry out research on our programs and plan to begin trials within hospital settings to further test applicability and refine our virtual-reality-assisted programs.

As of today, we provide tailored digital therapies and VR-assisted workshops in the field of sustainable and conscious leadership and mental health. We believe our programs have relevance and can add value not only to individuals but also to the mission of private companies, hospitals, prisons, mental health organizations, schools, businesses, and charities.

Join Us on This Transformative Journey

EarthscapeVR is a labor of passion and progress. We invite you to be part of our vision by contributing as an investor, friend, advisor, team member, or customer. Together, we can help cultivate a more caring society with a stronger connection to nature and one another.

Join our journey.

Sincerely,

Dr. Annahita Nezami

Website: www.annahitanezami.com

EarthscapeVR

Website: www.earthscapevr.com

Instagram: @earthscapevr