Ecological psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the relationship between individuals and their environments. It emphasizes how people perceive and interact with their surroundings, considering factors like social, cultural, and physical contexts. This approach suggests that behavior is shaped by the environment rather than solely by internal processes. One key concept in ecological psychology is the idea of affordances, which refers to the opportunities for action that the environment provides. For example, a chair affords sitting, while a staircase affords climbing. By studying these interactions, ecological psychology aims to understand how environments influence behavior and decision-making.