View
225
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Introduction to Behavioural Geography
Dr. Tom Johnston
[email protected] B884 UH
Office Hours: Tuesdays (9:30 to 11:30)
What is Behavioural Geography?
• An approach to understanding human geographical behaviour
• Draws upon research findings in psychology, but also economics, sociology and anthropology.
• Focuses on the cognitive processes underlying spatial reasoning, decision making and behaviour.
Things that BehaviouralGeographers Study
– Wayfinding (route selection)
– Attachment of Place
– Attitudes toward space and place
– Locational decisions
– Resource allocation decisions
Giving Directions …..
From the University, turn right at the new sign onto University Drive
Turn right again onto Whoop-up Drive
At the top of the hill at the fire station, turn left onto 5th Street
Go through one intersection – the Mongoli Grill will be on your left-hand side
The Penny Coffee Shop is just past the second intersection – kitty-corner to Lethbridge Centre
From the sixth level of University Hall head toward University Drive.
At University Drive, turn north and after about 500 metres, turn east onto Whoop-up Drive
At the top of the hill turn north at the first intersection onto 5th Street
Heading north, pass through the 500 and 400 blocks and past the intersection of 5th St. and 4th Ave.
The Penny Coffee Shop is located at 331 5th St.
Do Men and Women Tend to Give Directions Differently?
Gender
Female
Male
Geo-references Iconic Word Map
What do these two examples illustrate or tell us?
Outline
• Brief overview of the development of the Behavioural Approach
• Three applications of the Behavioural Approach– Agricultural land-use decisions (land-use
theory)– Differences in spatial skills (spatial cognition)
Behavioural Geography:A Brief History
• Geography formalized as a discipline in 1874
• Environmental Determinism first “paradigm” to dominate human geography
• ED rejected because …..– Could not be verified empirically– Too many anomalies– Overtly racist (used to justify imperialism)
Geography and theRegional Perspective
• Following demise of ED, the regional perspective dominated
• Regional perspective emphasized detailed study of specific regions, synthesizing knowledge from many systematic disciplines
• Emphasized Areal Differentiation
According to Richard Hartshorne (1939), the goal of geography was to …….
“provide an orderly and rational description and interpretation of the variable character of the earth’s surface”
NB: definition does not include any reference to explanation, prediction, search for laws, or empirical verification.
Foundations for the Emergenceof the “New” Geography
• Regional perspective was not regarded as a science
• Edward Ackerman (1945) argued that:
– During WWII many regional specialists “lacked the competence in topical and systematic subjects”