Attachment and identity as related to a place and its perceived climate

Abstract

This study examined the relations between place, climate, place attachment and place identity using Breakwell's four processes model of place identity (e.g. Twigger-Ross, Bonaiuto, and Breakwell. (2003). Identity Theories and Environmental Psychology, 203–233) as a framework. Following this, an influence of high vs. low attachment and urban vs. country(open-air)-person attitude on place (the City of Gothenburg, “Vallgraven”, Sweden) related identity processes was examined. In line with Twigger-Ross and Uzzell (1996) (Place and Identity Processes, 205–220) it was hypothesized that high attachment, together with a congruent place identification, in this case urban-person attitude, would influence significantly more residents’ place-related identity processes than low attachment and a place identification which was not congruent with where they were living, i.e. country(open-air)-person attitude. In addition it was hypothesized, in line with Knez (2003a) (The 5th international conference on urban climate (ICUC-5), September 2003, Lodz, Poland, Vol. 2, (2003a) pp. 69–72) that climate may be one of the meanings they attribute to the place. Empirical evidence on links between place attachment and place identity on urban vs. country(open-air)-person attitude and place identity were shown as well as a significant role of climate in subjects’ conceptions of a place, especially for those considered to be highly attached to their residential area. This latter result presents a challenge to place theory, in general, not taking into account a place's climate (Knez (2003b). The 5th international conference on urban climate (ICUC-5), September 2003, Lodz, Poland 2 (2003b) 65–68)). Finally, structural equation modelling suggested a model of five place identity process as opposed to Breakwell's four processes model, and showed a significant link proceeding from residential time to place attachment to place identity. This latter result indicates that prolonging one's stay at a place intensifies one's emotional bond to that place which in turn leads that a place becomes more a part of one's conceptual and extended selves (Neisser (1998). Philosophical Psychology, 1, 35–59), in this context a part of the content of the five place-related identity processes of distinctiveness, referent continuity, congruent continuity, self-esteem and self-efficacy.