Final PSY

1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING AND DESIGN
FOUNDATION IN NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Final Assignment: Space Design to Improve/ReducePsychological Concepts
Group Members: Joyce Wee
Mok Po Yi
Tan Wing Hoe
Tey Thien Hee
Lecturer: Ms. Norul Hidayah
Submission Date: 31st January 2014

2. INTRODUCTION
Pro social behavior is characterized by a concern about rights, feelings and welfare of others. It
also includes feeling empathy and concern for others as well as behaving in ways to help or
benefit people.
However, society nowadays is getting ignorant to the help needed by people moving
around them. Majority of people in the city are reluctant to even help someone that fell down on
the streets, let alone walking into an orphanage to help the children. To them, helping is
somewhat troublesome or might cause themselves unexpected trouble. They would rather turn a
blind eye towards what happened and move on in their lives.
This negative culture, we will be focusing on increasing pro social behavior out of
empathic joy.. Empathic joy is defined as “experiencing pleasure due to the accomplishments or
success of other people”. In other words, the individual feels happy because somebody else is
doing well. Maya Angelou once said, “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone
is blessed”. They are not likely to benefit directly from this success, but they just feel happy
because the other person is feeling happy.
Based on researches, there are ways to make helping more likely which includes reducing
ambiguity by making the need for help clearer. Besides, we can also encourage helping activities
by activating pro social norms which will lead to more helping behaviors. In our opinion, one of
the other ways is to fill the helping behavior with happiness so that people can enjoy helping
others instead treating it as a burden.

3. Through this assignment, we are going to design a space or to develop emphatic joy and
loving kindness in society. We hope to create happiness and at the same time provide help to
those in need. Besides, we wish to unconsciously plant the thought that helping can be simple
tasks that can brighten their day. Our idea is to bring the needs of the children from a children’s
home to the people. This is because it is hard to get the people to visit the children’s home as it
requires time.

4. A WISHING TREE
A Wishing Tree is a space designed to improve pro social behavior in our society. Conceptually,
A Wishing Tree aims to shorten the distance between children in need and the society by
bringing their simple wishes to the crowd. By bringing both parties closer, it will make helping
strangers feel more at ease.
This space will be set up on streets with steady flow of pedestrians. Preferably not those filled
with pedestrian rushing around doing their own business as they will not have time to stop by to
check around. Additionally, the exterior of the space will be bright and appealing in order to grab
the attention and spark the curiosity of passersby.
Children from supported children’s home will send in their simple wishes to A Wishing Tree.
Their wishes are as simple as a request for a new school bag or even a meal with the family.
Passersby are encouraged to volunteer by fulfilling the requests according to their ability. They
can choose to either to reveal or not to reveal their identity. In return, the children will send a
card, a recorded video, or a handmade craft as a token of gratitude. Upon receiving the small
gifts, the helpers will feel happy and satisfied with their own actions.
A Wishing Tree will be open for service every day from 8am to 8pm. Services will be run by
volunteers on shift.
“Never get tired of doing little things for others;
sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.”
“The best feeling of happiness is
when you’re happy because you’ve made somebody else happy”

5. DETAILS
1. Double Ceiling Height With Natural Lighting
Tall Ceilings And Sufficient Sunlight Gives The Space A Wide Feeling. People Are More Likely
To Help As They Won’t Feel Pressured By The Surrounding Atmosphere.
2. Soothing Music
Soothing Music Is Played To Relax The Mind And Broaden Their Thoughts.
3. Wishing Tree
The Wishing Tree Is The Main Element Of The Space. It Is An Artificial Tree With Branches
Spreading Out All Over The Ceiling Is Set In The Middle Of The Space. Wishing Cards From
The Children Will Be Hanged From The Branches To Be Read And Picked By Those Who Are
Willing To Help.
4. Gift Counter
After Picking The Suitable Child To Help, The Helper Will Proceed To Prepare The Gift In
Terms Of Goods Or Money. A Gift Counter Will Be Set To Receive The Gifts And Provide The
Helper With The Necessary Forms To Fill In. The Gift Counter Will Be Responsible In Sending
The Gifts To The Respective Children.
5. Joy Giving Counter
After Receiving The Gifts, The Children Will Send Something Back To The Helper As A Token
Of Gratitude. These Small Gifts Or Mails Will Be Kept In This Counter Waiting To Be
Redeemed.

6. 6. Hand Printed Wall
A Wall Featuring Children’s Hand Prints. Children Will Have Their Hand Prints Printed On
Tiles Before Hand And Are Fixed On The Wall. They Are Free To Decorate The Tiles In Their
Own Style And Preferably, Their Dreams Or Things That Make Them Happy.
7. Donation Box
For Those Who Want To Help But Are Not Financially Well To Get A Gift, They Can Donate
An Amount That They Are Comfortable With. Helping People Is Not A Burden But Is An Act
Of Kindness That Is Measured Through Sincerity Instead Of The Amount.