The Biophilic Affect; Place Attachment & Pro-Environmental Behaviour.
Connections between biophilia and place attachment have received little attention in research to date. However, exploring this connection poses an interesting approach to the value of horticulture in place-making and nature preservation. This short essay explores how some of these connections are formed through theories such as Place Attachment Theory and the Social Identity Theory. Whilst also acknowledging other factors that come into play such as, local versus tourist attachments to place and “Nimbyism.” Peoples’ tendency to form attachments to places they need and/or places where they experience positive emotions could be incorporated into urban design and horticultural practices to increase place attachment to green spaces and thus encourage pro-environmental use.
Place Attachment Theory
Place attachment has been defined in several ways through varying disciplines such as psychology, environmental psychology, architecture, geography and sociology (Cole et al., 2021). Each suggests varying frameworks for understanding attachment to place. Place attachment can broadly be defined as an emotional, physical and cognitive connection of an individual or group to a particular place (Low & Altman, 1992).
When exploring the interrelations between green spaces and psychological processes of place attachment there are some key elements to consider: Place identity and dependence, social bonding and nature bonding. Social identity as an emotional attachment refers to the importance of places as a space for emotions and relationships that give human life meaning and purpose. We should consider place dependence as a functional attachment, which refers to a person’s dependence on a place for specific physical uses and needs (Yost, 2011). Nature bonding also has key role in the development of attachment to place and is based on affinity to nature and nature connectedness.
Biophilia & Social Identity Theory
Biophillia is cultivated through the blended growth of environmental knowledge, emotional responsiveness, physical connectedness and aesthetic appreciation of nature, all of which impact human attachment to place and vice versa. Introducing more greenspaces in the places that individuals need to use could increase biophilia through increased place attachment.
Previous studies have used varying perspectives in support of a link between attachment to greenspaces and pro-environmental behaviour. (Lewicka, 2011) and the Social Identity Theory (Brown, 2000) both suggest that the development of emotional bonds between an individual and a community or place can provoke positive behavioural tendencies to protect it. (Daryanto & Song, 2021 pg. 210) stated that, “Someone who is attached to a place may behave pro-environmentally for the benefit of the place even though the pro-environmental behaviour requires more time or money.”
Nimbyism
Another facet of place attachment theory that should be considered is the “NIMBY” phenomenon, standing for “Not In My Backyard.” NIMBYism is the idea that individuals or groups will object and oppose to the siting of facilities that they perceive to be unsafe or hazardous to their local area, usually for self-interested reasons (Esaiasson, 2014). For example, wind energy is a technology proven to successfully and sustainably replace fossil fuels and is shown to be strongly supported in public polls (Smith & Klick, 2008). Yet when specific project proposals are made, they often face local oppositions. NIMBYism could be perceived as having both pro and anti-environmental impacts. Whilst motives behind NIMBYism are often individualistic and oppose to pro-environmental developments, NIMBY protests are based on the need to protect local and often natural environments. One way of gaining local acceptance of pro-environmental developments such as wind farms would be through involving local people in decision making and planning and providing information about these projects (Olsen, 2010).
Community Gardens as a Platform for Developing Attachment to Greenspaces
The effect of place attachment on pro-environmental behaviour is generally enhanced in a collective culture (Daryanto & Song, 2021) supporting the argument that community involvement in nature-based projects could increase community nature-connectedness and biophilia, thus resulting in a more pro-environmental collective mindset. Ecologist Leopold (1914) also backs this argument when he suggests that “When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” When individuals see themselves as a part of nature they are motivated to take care of it, in not doing so, they will experience a sense of self-destruction. A study by (Lee & Matarrita-Cascante, 2019) found that individuals’ intention to participate in community gardens was strongly associated with place identity and place dependence. Noting that these gardens satisfy specific needs and goals, which is a key part of place attachment theory.
(Daryanto & Song, 2021) found firstly that the effect of place attachment is greater for tourists in a tourist site than for people living in their permanent residence. Second, the effect of place attachment is greater in countries with a collectivist culture than in individualist countries. This finding also supports the argument that community gardens and their “collectivist” nature could encourage a sense of bonging, leading to pro-environmental behaviours.
Future Implications
Based on these findings, it should be proposed that increased access to green spaces are an integral part of future landscape and horticultural design, particularly in urban settings, places where individuals visit for recreation, along with places that individuals depend on for certain needs. This could be achieved by changing policy within design practices so that urban planning regulations factor elements of biophilic design into their planning and policies. Another recommendation for achieving this is an increase in government funding for nature-based community projects as well as roll out schemes for community gardens in nature deprived urban areas. This would increase residents’ interaction with nature, increase a sense of community and social identity whilst simultaneously meeting individuals’ basic needs and goals such as access to food and developing gardening skills (Lee & Matarrita-Cascante, 2019). Another suggestion to increase attachments to greenspaces would be for local councils to promote tourist participation in nature-based recreational activities in order to promote a positive sense of nostalgia for green and natural places as suggested by (Scannell & Gifford, 2010).
So what?
If elements of nature are integrated into these spaces to which people are ‘attached’, their affective essence could contribute to quenching the need for connection with the natural world. With a larger portion of the population forming attachments to greenspaces, we could see a rise in the “love of nature” leading to potential benefits to the horticultural industry and the environment globally.