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Abstract
In this investigation, we adapted identity theory (references) to reassess a conceptualization of place attachment – an attitudinal construct used by environmental psychologists to describe people‘s bonding to the physical landscape. Past work has conceptualized the construct in terms of three components; cognitive, affective and conative elements. Based on the tents of identity theory, we hypothesized that the cognitive component – reflected in the dimension place identity - is an antecedent of these other affective and conative facets. We empirically tested this reconceptualization using data collected from two spatial contexts in Southern California; San Diego and Los Angeles. Analyses of both data sets provided strong empirical support for our reconceptualization of the place attachment construct and its associated measures. Rather than existing on the same temporal plane, we suggest that identification processes are a driver of other affective and conative elements that underlie people attachments to the physical world.
Citation
Absher, James D. 2010. Repositioning Identity in Conceptualizations Human-Place Bonding. In: Hsu, Yi-Chung, ed. Proceedings of the Conference on Visions and Strategies for World’s National Parks and Issues Confronting the Management of World’s National Parks (I); 2010 August 2-3; National Dong Hwa University; Hualien, Taiwan. pp. 223-233.
