Behavioural Geography

From Geography

Behavioural Geography is an ideology/approach that makes use of the methods and assumptions of behavourism to determine the cognitive processes involved in an individuals perception of, and/or response and reaction to their environment. The theory focuses on the coginitive processes underlying spatial reasoning, decision making and behaviour. Due the lack of a theoritical base this theory was left open to critique, although behavioural geography incorporates a number of concerns which are still influential in much geographical thinking:

    - Perceptions people hold of hazards and environments
    - Mental maps people have of the spaces and places around them
    - The everyday spatial preferences people display in occupying or utilising certain spaces and places rather than others

References:

Cloke, P., Philo, C., Sadler, D. (1999). Approaching Human Geography. Paul Chapman: London, 57-92.

• Page created by Paul van den Hogen -- PaulHogen 15:15, 24 September 2012
• page enhanced by Niek van Enckevort --NiekVanEnckevort 15:40, 23 October 2012