environmental psychology
nasrin mohammadi; Rouhollah Rahimi; Vahid Vaziri
Abstract
HighlightsExamines the role of urban behavioral settings in strengthening place attachment.Employs a hybrid method combining Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).Case study: western façade of Imam Khomeini Street in Ardabil, Iran.Identifies three key components ...
Read More
HighlightsExamines the role of urban behavioral settings in strengthening place attachment.Employs a hybrid method combining Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).Case study: western façade of Imam Khomeini Street in Ardabil, Iran.Identifies three key components of behavioral settings influencing citizens’ mental maps.Provides a ranked set of strategies to reinforce place identity and urban legibility. Extended Abstract IntroductionIn recent decades, the rapid transformation and uncontrolled expansion of cities have weakened citizens’ emotional bonds with urban spaces, particularly in historic contexts with strong cultural identities. Urban planning practices have often overlooked these affective connections. Imam Khomeini Street in Ardabil—one of the oldest and most vital urban axes—illustrates this challenge. This study seeks to identify and prioritize the components of behavioral settings that strengthen place attachment, using citizens’ mental maps as a key analytical tool. Theoretical FrameworkPlace attachment refers to the emotional bonds people establish with specific environments. It is shaped by both cognitive and affective processes, closely linked to perceptions of safety, identity, and satisfaction.Behavioral settings are urban spaces that accommodate spontaneous public interactions and reflect diverse user needs, thereby influencing behavior and collective memory.Mental maps represent individuals’ cognitive and emotional perceptions of urban environments, typically consisting of nodes, landmarks, edges, and paths.This study draws on phenomenological and environmental psychology perspectives to highlight the interconnectedness of urban form, human perception, and behavior. MethodologyThis applied-developmental research employs a mixed-method approach combining quantitative analysis and expert evaluations:Survey: A sample of 384 Ardabil residents responded to a Likert-scale questionnaire, designed from existing literature, validated via CFA (Confirmatory Factor Analysis), and with strong reliability (Cronbach's alpha > 0.9).Structural Equation Modeling (SEM): Used to examine relationships between urban facades, mental images, and place attachment. Indicators including RMSEA, CFI, and GFI confirmed model fit.Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP): Based on SEM outcomes, AHP was employed to rank the identified factors. Fifteen urban planning experts conducted pairwise comparisons, with weights and consistency indices calculated using Expert Choice software.Case study area: The western side of Imam Khomeini Street, from Shariati Junction to Imam Khomeini Crossroad, a historically and spatially significant axis in Ardabil. Results and DiscussionSEM findings confirmed three hypotheses:Urban facades significantly influence mental images (β = 0.611).Urban facades significantly affect place attachment (β = 0.240).Mental images mediate the relationship between urban form and place attachment (β = 0.536).AHP results identified three ranked dimensions of behavioral settings:B. Enhancing place attachment and spatial legibility through key land uses and iconic buildings (Weight: 0.453) – highest rank.A. Preserving identity and highlighting site-specific characteristics (Weight: 0.366).C. Strengthening mental images of urban facades (Weight: 0.181).Among 11 sub-criteria, the most influential were:Functionally unique urban spaces (0.270).Incorporating citizens’ needs into design (0.188).Visual distinctiveness (0.183).The results demonstrate a layered relationship between built form, perception, and emotional bonds, mediated by visual cues, iconic nodes, and functional identity. These findings align with Lynch’s (1960) theory of legibility, Relph’s (1976) work on place identity, and more recent studies by Ramkissoon, Mouratidis, and Mehta. ConclusionThis research developed and tested an operational framework to identify and prioritize components of place attachment in urban behavioral settings, focusing on Imam Khomeini Street in Ardabil. The integrated use of SEM and AHP provided both statistical validation and practical prioritization of factors influencing attachment.Key findings emphasize that:Spatial legibility and iconic landmarks are the strongest contributors to place attachment.Functional responsiveness to citizens’ needs enhances both perception and satisfaction.Visual distinctiveness reinforces mental imagery and strengthens symbolic value.Importantly, the study underscores that place attachment is not reducible to physical form alone. Instead, it emerges from the dynamic interplay between tangible elements (facades, land uses, urban design), subjective perceptions (mental maps, imagery), and socio-cultural context (identity, tradition, community engagement).From a planning perspective, these insights call for a holistic, multi-layered approach to urban regeneration—one that integrates physical coherence with cultural continuity and participatory engagement. The proposed framework is both theoretically innovative and practically adaptable, offering a transferable tool for other cities with historic and cultural significance.Ultimately, by embedding citizens’ lived experiences and perceptual maps into the planning process, urban designers and policymakers can create spaces that are not only functional and aesthetically coherent but also emotionally resonant, culturally grounded, and socially inclusive. Such environments foster deeper bonds between people and place, ensuring urban resilience and sustainable identity in the face of rapid change.
environmental psychology
alireza khadivipanah; islam karami
Abstract
Highlights:A significant relationship between privacy variable and residential quality.The effect of the type of building complexes on the amount of privacy and quality of residenceThe proper construction condition of the tower compared to the surrounding, scattered and linear species in terms of privacy ...
Read More
Highlights:A significant relationship between privacy variable and residential quality.The effect of the type of building complexes on the amount of privacy and quality of residenceThe proper construction condition of the tower compared to the surrounding, scattered and linear species in terms of privacy and quality of residence.Impact of ownership status and gender on the quality of residence and privacy.Correlation between the quality of residence variable and the sense of belonging to the place. IntroductionWith rising urban populations and migration to major cities, there is a growing demand for apartment living, often with little attention to psychological and social needs. Political, economic, and social pressures affect both construction patterns and human behavior, leading to residential environments where quantity is often prioritized over quality. The primary hypothesis of this research is that privacy (the independent variable) plays a vital role in enhancing residence quality (the dependent variable). The lack of privacy considerations has resulted in social isolation, diminished human values, and a decline in social and ecological qualities within residential complexes. This points to a critical need for research on how privacy can improve living quality and foster community in densely populated urban areas.The study focuses on Mashhad, where the preservation of privacy and social interaction—especially in religious contexts—is essential. It aims to investigate how privacy in modern residential complexes can create a favorable living environment, enhance social interactions, and promote a strong sense of belonging.Theoretical FrameworkEnsuring privacy within residential complexes not only increases security but also facilitates neighborly interactions. In Western studies, privacy is often associated with personal space and territoriality, framed within the context of security and individual rights. In this research, privacy encompasses both physical and social dimensions, affecting residents’ satisfaction and well-being. Creating personal spaces and controlling spatial boundaries provides individuals with a sense of autonomy, though privacy needs vary across cultures.Adhering to privacy principles can enhance the physical and social dimensions of a residence, ultimately contributing to a better quality of life. Privacy thus emerges as a key social and psychological component of residential design; when effectively integrated, it strengthens social bonds, fosters communication, and improves residents’ quality of life.MethodologyThis study employs an operational research model based on indicators of privacy and residence quality. Privacy is analyzed through individual-social, moral-belief, and behavioral-functional dimensions, while residence quality is assessed in terms of perceptual-emotional, physical-functional, and social-activity factors. To ensure validity, the questionnaire was reviewed by 25 experts, and reliability was tested on a sample of 40 individuals from the target population.Data analysis was performed using regression and path analysis through SPSS software. The statistical population consisted of residents from four residential complexes in Mashhad, each representing a distinct architectural type: Venus (centralized), Farhangian (scattered), Pars (peripheral), and Zanbag (linear). The sample size for each complex type was determined using the Cochran formula.Results and DiscussionThe findings indicate a significant relationship between the physical-functional aspect of residence quality and privacy. Furthermore, privacy and residence quality are positively correlated across all complexes, with varying levels of impact depending on the architectural configuration.Gender differences significantly influence perceptions of privacy and residence quality, with male and female residents exhibiting distinct privacy expectations. The study also highlights the importance of individual-social privacy, which strengthens community bonds and enhances a sense of belonging. A notable correlation was found between the perceptual-emotional dimension of residence quality and the behavioral-functional component of privacy.Among the complex types, linear designs showed the lowest levels of physical and functional quality. Privacy in these complexes is often compromised due to inadequately placed entrances, insufficient natural screening, and poor spatial hierarchies. Conversely, scattered and centralized designs generally foster better privacy, contributing to higher levels of resident satisfaction.ConclusionThe study underscores the importance of privacy in enhancing residence quality in residential complexes. It suggests that privacy should be considered a form of social capital, particularly in cultural and religious settings. Privacy and residence quality are positively correlated, indicating that privacy-sensitive architectural strategies can enhance the social, physical, and functional dimensions of residence.When privacy considerations are well integrated, residents experience greater physical and social satisfaction. The solitary configuration emerged as the most favorable in terms of privacy and residence quality. However, linear complexes frequently fail to meet privacy needs due to issues such as open spatial arrangements, lack of controlled entry, and minimal natural screening. These findings suggest that residential design should prioritize privacy-sensitive transitions from public to private spaces, incorporate adequate vegetation, and maintain controlled entry points to create a balanced, high-quality living environment.
environmental psychology
Mohammad Hasan Yazdani; abolfazl abdolahi fard; shiva velayati; samira saeidi zarangi
Abstract
Highlights- Beautification of the urban space using public art improves the quality of life.- It removes defects and eliminates visual disturbances and urban landscape.- Public arts bring vitality and health to women, who make up half of the society.IntroductionArt has always had a rational and improving ...
Read More
Highlights- Beautification of the urban space using public art improves the quality of life.- It removes defects and eliminates visual disturbances and urban landscape.- Public arts bring vitality and health to women, who make up half of the society.IntroductionArt has always had a rational and improving function in human societies as one of the important pillars of education and training. A skilled artist can control many social anomalies and lead the society to a desirable and bright life. The perception of beauty is one of the human needs that the citizens in the city seek (Moeinifar, 2012:21). Today, cities have become places for doing repetitive activities and the machine life of citizens. In this regard, it is necessary to strengthen the points that have value in terms of urban facilities in the urban design for the benefit of the people, and also the factors and forces required for the entry and stopping of people in the space. Therefore, public art can be used to beautify and improve the visual quality of the city of Ardabil, eliminate architectural problems, beautify, optimize the urban environment and improve the quality of life of the city and its citizens, especially urban women.Theoretical FrameworkTo define public art, two words "art" and "public" should be discussed. The term public art has a very broad meaning and includes everything from urban sculptures to subway graffiti, but is often used as a collective term to cover any art that is not shown in official galleries or museums. Meanwhile, proper planning and special attention to women can be an important factor in urban development; Therefore, the active participation of women in the preparation and implementation of urban plans, laying the groundwork for the greater presence of women in urban spaces, improving the security of public spaces, paying attention to the protection of places where women are more present, the ability to increase visibility, openness and ease of access, increasing the strength of the transportation system at night is one of the things that can play a favorable role in creating suitable urban spaces for women. Joy and happiness are one of the most important human needs that prepare them to face the complexities and problems of today's world. Although many people believe that this art is internal and the person himself should create happiness in his life, but since the city space establishes the most connection with people and the living environment,MethodologyThe current research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of method. According to the nature of the study, the method of data collection is a survey and a library using a questionnaire with the women of Ardabil city. Cronbach's alpha was used to confirm the validity of the questionnaire, considering that little research has been done in this field, according to professors and specialists, and to check the reliability of the questionnaire. The total alpha coefficient was equal to (.906), which shows the high reliability of the questionnaire. The statistical population in the current research is women (experts and non-experts in art and architecture) in Ardabil who are between 20-35 years old (57,913). To estimate the sample size, Cochran's formula was used, and the number of 381 samples was estimated, of which 185 healthy questionnaires were distributed and completed among the statistical population by a simple random method. In this research, the questionnaire measures the research variables, which consists of 41 questions, divided into two sections, public arts and interactive arts, and one image from each type of art, similar to what was shown in the introduction section of public arts, was selected and An online questionnaire format, in which the participants were asked to express the level of joy they felt after watching that artwork in urban spaces according to the 5-point Likert scale, was designed and sent to the target community through virtual space applications. It should be noted that the questions were evaluated through a 5-option Likert scale. In order to analyze the data in the descriptive statistics section, Excel, Spss software and for inferential statistics in which the relationships between variables are examined based on the purpose of the research, the statistical test with inclusion (one-sample T) was used.Results and DiscussionTo investigate the impact of public art on the perceived vitality of women in Ardabil city and to answer the research question of which type of public art has a greater impact on improving the perceived vitality of women in urban spaces, a one-sample t-test was used.The results of the single-sample t-test showed that abstract art had the highest average score (4.71), followed by the vitality created by this item (4.60), and the desire to create abstract art in the urban space from the point of view of women (4.63). This means that abstract art was the most popular type of public art among the women surveyed.In the next ranks, art embedded in space and applied art had an average score of (4.25), followed by art appropriate to the site and natural environment with an average score of (4.18), artistry (sculptures of celebrities) with an average score of (4.16), and finally the musical fountain with an average score of (4.03).These results suggest that women in Ardabil city perceive abstract art as the most vitalizing type of public art. This may be because abstract art is open to interpretation and can be seen in many different ways, which allows women to connect with it on a personal level. Additionally, abstract art can be seen as a form of escapism, which can be appealing to women who are looking for a way to relax and de-stress.ConclusionThe city of Ardabil has a lot of potential to create public art that is both visually appealing and revitalizing for women. However, the current state of public art in the city is lacking. There are only a small number of famous statues and some examples of murals and lighting. This is a missed opportunity to create a more vibrant and inviting urban environment for women. The managers and planners of the municipality and related bodies should pay more attention to the vitality and vitality of not only the women of the city of Ardabil, but also all sections of the society. They should commission more public art that is designed to appeal to women and other marginalized groups. This would help to create a more inclusive and equitable urban environment for everyone.In addition to commissioning more public art, the municipality should also take steps to improve the security of public spaces. This would make women feel more comfortable and safe in the city, which would encourage them to spend more time outdoors and enjoy the public art. By taking these steps, the municipality can create a more vibrant and inviting urban environment for women and all residents of Ardabil city.
