ABSTRACT
Peoples’ lives become more meaningful when they develop strong connections to place. Bonding with place links us to the past, situates us in the present, and shapes our future. Place matters. This chapter explains that geographers have long studied the qualities of place and how humans interact with places. Yet, their contributions to Place Attachment research have largely gone unnoticed. Following an overview of relevant literature (especially geographic), I present a typology of places to which people become emotionally attached (Secure, Socializing, Transformative, Restorative, Validating, and Vanishing). The holistic approach and innovative methods that geographers employ provide a fresh perspective on Place Attachment research.
