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|  |
| Bonsaichology | |
|---|---|
 A bonsai tree (Acer buergerianum) from Kyoto | |
| Other names | Bonsai therapy (informal) |
| Specialty | Ecopsychology, expressive arts therapy, horticultural therapy |
Bonsaichology is a proposed ecopsychological and therapeutic framework that interprets the cultivation and care of bonsai as a structured nature-based activity with potential mental-health and wellbeing benefits. The approach draws on ecopsychology, horticultural therapy, expressive arts methods, and—more recently—polyvagal theory. The term has been used by South African psychologist Caroll Dewar Hermann, whose doctoral research (2013–2015) examined bonsai practice from an ecopsychological perspective, and later publications explored therapeutic applications.[1]
Etymology and development
[edit]Hermann’s doctoral thesis at the University of Zululand (2015) investigated bonsai’s principles and potential healing properties within an ecopsychological framework.[1] She later introduced the term "Bonsaichology" to describe this integration of expressive arts, horticultural practice, and psychology. Her 2021 peer-reviewed article in PsyCh Journal reported on bonsai as a therapeutic intervention among youth,[2] and she has also published widely accessible pieces, such as Bonsaichology: How little trees can make you feel good in The South African.[3]
South African media references, such as Venter’s 2015 article, How bonsaichology can help ease your lockdown stress in the North Coast Courier, illustrate the popularisation of the concept beyond academic psychology.[4]
Concept
[edit]Bonsaichology frames bonsai practice (styling, pruning, repotting, observing seasonal change) as a multimodal activity that combines aesthetic focus, mindful attention, and sustained interaction with a living plant. Reported outcomes include ecological and spiritual awareness, creativity, resilience, and perceived improvements in mental health.[5]
Theoretical background
[edit]Ecopsychology
[edit]Bonsaichology is situated within ecopsychology, which examines the relationship between human psychology and the natural environment.
Horticultural therapy
[edit]Systematic reviews of horticultural therapy report reductions in stress and improvements in wellbeing across populations. Within this field, bonsai is treated as a specialized case of therapeutic horticulture.
Expressive arts
[edit]Bonsai cultivation has been framed as an expressive arts therapy intervention, providing opportunities for symbolic meaning-making, resilience building, and narrative integration.[2]
Polyvagal theory
[edit]Recent conceptualizations link Bonsaichology to polyvagal theory (Stephen Porges), proposing that embodied plant-care tasks, sensory engagement, and co-regulation in group settings can support autonomic regulation and perceived safety.[6]
Physiological evidence
[edit]Research in Japan by Ochiai et al. (2017) and Song et al. (2018) demonstrated that exposure to bonsai trees or foliage plants reduces stress markers such as blood pressure and cortisol, while increasing parasympathetic activity.[7][8]
Research
[edit]Key studies and publications include:
- Hermann (2015): Doctoral thesis at the University of Zululand.[1]
- Hermann (2021): Practitioners’ experiences of the influence of bonsai art on integral health and well-being (IJERPH).[5]
- Hermann (2021): Bonsai as a group art therapy intervention among traumatised youth in KwaZulu-Natal (PsyCh Journal).[2]
- Hermann (2021): Bonsaichology: How little trees can make you feel good (The South African).[3]
- Venter (2015): How bonsaichology can help ease your lockdown stress (North Coast Courier).[4]
- Ochiai et al. (2017): Visual stimulation with foliage plants.[7]
- Song et al. (2018): Physiological effects of viewing bonsai trees.[8]
Reception and criticism
[edit]While bonsai-based interventions show promise, scholars note the need for more rigorous study designs and psychophysiological measures. Polyvagal theory, while influential in clinical psychology, has also been debated and requires continued empirical testing.[6]
See also
[edit]Further reading
[edit]- Hermann, Caroll (2021). "Bonsaichology: How little trees can make you feel good". The South African.
- Venter, N. (2015). "How "bonsaichology" can help ease your lockdown stress". North Coast Courier.
- Song, Chorong; Ikei, Hyerim; Miyazaki, Yoshifumi (2016). "Physiological effects of nature therapy: A review". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 13 (8): 781. doi:10.3390/ijerph13080781. PMC 4997467. PMID 27527193.
- Song, Chorong; Ikei, Hyerim; Nara, Masahiro; Takayama, Norio; Miyazaki, Yoshifumi (2018). "Physiological and psychological effects of viewing bonsai trees". Journal of Physiological Anthropology. 37 (1): 11. doi:10.1186/s40101-018-0175-7 (inactive 3 October 2025).
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of October 2025 (link) - Ochiai, H.; Hiroko, S.; Song, C.; Ikei, H.; Imai, M.; Miyazaki, Y. (2017). "Physiological and psychological effects of visual stimulation with foliage plants in high school students". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14 (6): 681. doi:10.3390/ijerph14060681 (inactive 3 October 2025).
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of October 2025 (link)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Hermann, Caroll (2015). Integral Ecopsychological Investigation of Bonsai Principles, Meaning and Healing (PhD thesis). University of Zululand.
- ^ a b c Hermann, Caroll (2021). "Bonsai as group art therapy intervention among traumatised youth in KwaZulu-Natal". PsyCh Journal. 10 (2): 177–186. doi:10.1002/pchj.423. PMID 33517588.
- ^ a b Hermann, Caroll (2021). "Bonsaichology: How little trees can make you feel good". The South African.
- ^ a b Venter, N. (2015). "How "bonsaichology" can help ease your lockdown stress". North Coast Courier.
- ^ a b Hermann, Caroll (2021). "Practitioners' experiences of the influence of bonsai art on integral health and well-being". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18 (6): 2894. doi:10.3390/ijerph18062894. PMC 8001308. PMID 33809052.
- ^ a b Porges, Stephen W. (2022). "Polyvagal Theory: A Science of Safety". Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience. 16 871227. doi:10.3389/fnint.2022.871227. PMID 35645742.
- ^ a b Ochiai, H.; Hiroko, S.; Song, C.; Ikei, H.; Imai, M.; Miyazaki, Y. (2017). "Physiological and psychological effects of visual stimulation with foliage plants in high school students". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14 (6): 681. doi:10.3390/ijerph14060681 (inactive 3 October 2025).
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of October 2025 (link) - ^ a b Song, C.; Ikei, H.; Nara, M.; Takayama, N.; Miyazaki, Y. (2018). "Physiological and psychological effects of viewing bonsai trees". Journal of Physiological Anthropology. 37 (1): 11. doi:10.1186/s40101-018-0175-7 (inactive 3 October 2025).
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of October 2025 (link)
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