Social Cohesiveness, Territoriality, and Holiday Decorations

Abstract

Altman's territoriality theory was used as a framework for examining neighborhood attachment. We hypothesized that attachment would be manifested in interrelated patterns of neighboring behaviors, attitudes indicating that the block was a secondary territory, and individual and communal displays of holiday decorations. Design features of cul-de-sacs were hypothesized to contribute to greater degrees of block attachment on cul-de-sacs than on through streets. Attachment was assessed through interviews with female residents and observations of holiday decorations on the target home and its block at Halloween and Christmas. Analyses indicated that attitudes and behaviors did combine to reflect degrees of neighborhood attachment, and neighborhood ties were stronger on cul-de-sacs than on through streets. Decorating at both Halloween and Christmas tended to be a block phenomenon (if the target home was decorated, so were the neighbors' homes); decorating at each time was related to aspects of neighborhood attachment. The results indicated that attachment can be a multilevel phenomenon that is related to the street's environmental design. The influence of street form is discussed as a facilitator rather than a cause of attachment.

Does Permeability Promote Social Cohesion

“…The findings of the present study indicate that respondents from the properties located on cul-de-sacs and local streets perceived a higher level of social cohesion compared to those from the arterials. This result is consistent with the findings of a previous study (Brown & Werner, 1985), suggesting that residents from close streets are more protective of their surroundings and are associated with higher levels neighbourhood cohesion, compared to the higher levels of hierarchy. Bivariate correlations.…”

“…Evidence seems to suggest that there is a high degree of neighbouring behaviour on cul-de-sacs (Brown & Werner, 1985). Similarly, a previous study has indicated that residents living on high permeable streets have limited their activities in the use of property frontage and their exposure to the strangers (Appleyard & Lintell, 1972).…”

“…It is anticipated that the patterns of neighbourhood layout contribute to facilitating or disrupting any sense of attachment among residents. Although most planning literature has spoken of the enhancement of cohesion and privacy on cul-de-sacs rather than through roads, there is little evidence to support this assumption (Abdullah et al, 2015;Brown & Werner, 1985). The question arises in which physical characteristics of urban environments contribute to facilitating social interactions among neighbours.…”

Meanings of place and aspects of the Self: an interdisciplinary and empirical account

“…To be true, there is no general agreement among psychologists about the definition of each of these concepts. Attachment is at times treated as a synonym of identity (Brown and Werner 1985;Stedman 2002, p. 563), correlated with it (Williams 2002;Hernandez et al 2007, p. 311) or subsumed within it (Lalli 1992;Puddifoot 1995), occasionally in form of a prerequisite (Proshansky et al 1983, p. 60-61;Twigger-Ross and Uzzell 1996, p. 206). In other cases, both identity and attachment are instead conceptualized as components of a superordinate category, sense of place (Hay 1998, p. 7;Jorgensen and Stedman 2001, p. 233).…”

Flats Outdoor Space as a Vital Social Place

“…B. Brown & Werner, 1985;Sauter & Huettenmoser, 2008). Presence of functional spaces complementing the dwelling units, such as interactional and communal spaces, and other related social facilities (Huang, 2006;Kang, 2006;Sirgy & Cornwell, 2002) impacts the residents' quality of life (Sirgy & Cornwell, 2002;Sugiyama & Thompson, 2005).…”