Cognitive mapping is a construct that encompasses those processes that enable people to acquire, code, store, recall, and manipulate information about the nature of their spatial environment. It refers to the attributes and relative locations of people and objects in the environment, and is an essential component in the adaptive process of spatial decision-making--such as finding a safe and quick route to from work, locating potential sites for a new house or business, and deciding where to travel on a vacation trip.
Cognitive processes are not constant, but undergo change with age or development and use or learning. Image and Environment, now in paperback, is a pioneer study. It brings a new academic discipline to a wide audience. The volume is divided into six sections, which represent a comprehensive breakdown of cognitive mapping studies: "Theory"; "Cognitive Representations"; "Spatial Preferences"; "The Development of Spatial Cognition"; "Geographical and Spatial Orientation"; and "Cognitive Distance." Contributors include Edward Tolman, James Blaut, Stephen Kaplan, Terence Lee, Donald Appleyard, Peter Orleans, Thomas Saarinen, Kevin Cox, Georgia Zannaras, Peter Gould, Roger Hart, Gary Moore, Donald Griffin, Kevin Lynch, Ulf Lundberg, Ronald Lowrey, and Ronald Briggs.
"If one wants to know about cognitive mapping and cognitive maps, this is an excellent place to turn. The 19 contributions are carefully selected, the editors do a find job of drawing threads together."
--Brian J. L. Berry, American Journal of Sociology
"[I]f you want to know how people in other disciplines are thinking about the intriguing relations among image, space, and behavior, I highly recommend this book."
--Miles Richardson, American Anthropologist
"For their work Downs and Stea deserve nothing but praise.... This is... a volume to which those in the growing field of environment-and-behavior will turn frequently, as much from necessity as for enjoyment and profit."
--Joachim F. Wohlwill, Science
"If one wants to know about cognitive mapping and cognitive maps, this is an excellent place to turn. The 19 contributions are carefully selected, the editors do a find job of drawing threads together."
--Brian J. L. Berry, American Journal of Sociology
"[I]f you want to know how people in other disciplines are thinking about the intriguing relations among image, space, and behavior, I highly recommend this book."
--Miles Richardson, American Anthropologist
"For their work Downs and Stea deserve nothing but praise.... This is... a volume to which those in the growing field of environment-and-behavior will turn frequently, as much from necessity as for enjoyment and profit."
--Joachim F. Wohlwill, Science
-If one wants to know about cognitive mapping and cognitive maps, this is an excellent place to turn. The 19 contributions are carefully selected, the editors do a find job of drawing threads together.-
--Brian J. L. Berry, American Journal of Sociology
-[I]f you want to know how people in other disciplines are thinking about the intriguing relations among image, space, and behavior, I highly recommend this book.-
--Miles Richardson, American Anthropologist
-For their work Downs and Stea deserve nothing but praise.... This is... a volume to which those in the growing field of environment-and-behavior will turn frequently, as much from necessity as for enjoyment and profit.-
--Joachim F. Wohlwill, Science
