Adolescens’ favourite places and environmental sSelf-regulation

Korpela, K.M., 1992, Adolescens’ favourite places and environmental sSelf-regulation, in: Journal of Environmental Psychology, 12,

  • Author : Korpela, K.M.
  • Year : 1992
  • Journal/Series : Journal of Environmental Psychology
  • Volume Number (CONSECUTIVE: Counting all Volumes of this Journal ever published) : 12
  • Pages : 249-258
  • Abstract in English : The objective of the study was to give credence to the argument that favourite places are used as a means of regulating unpleasant and pleasant feelings, the coherence of self-experience, and self-esteem. The concept of environmental self-regulation holds that self-involvement in a physical environment is possible and that physical environment itself can be used as a strategy for regulating emotions and maintaining one’s self (Swan, 1983; Rochberg-Halton; 1984, Korpela, 1989 in Korpela, 1989 = this article). Natural settings may play a role in that. The self-theoretical view adopted in this study resembles the basic process approach to Kaplan‘s theory, but the emphasis is on self and its functional principles rather than on cognition and the principles of information processing. This publication suggests hypotheses for future studies: positive experience may just be prolonged in a favourite place or they may create incoherence in self-experience, thus necessitating introspection in a favourite place.
  • Comments/Notes : KEYWORDS: environmental psychology, favourite places, place- identity, place attachment, self-regulation, restorative environments, quality. UTILITY: lecturers/teachers, academic research. The research into favourite places is rather theoretical, but in practice people use regularly the same places in natural setting, on plazas, in streets etc. Research, discussion and interpretation may contribute to improvement of the quality of public places.