ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 discusses cognitive-behavioral approaches to spatial cognition. It begins with a discussion of the importance of spatiality, particularly the concept of distance, for human behavior. Briefly, human spatial behavior is characterized by the statement that “Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things,” a statement often called the first law of geography. The chapter next clarifies that behavioral research into human spatial cognition is characterized by its emphasis on the individual as an active information gatherer and interpreter (rather than an aggregate data analysis), investigation of processes underlying observed patterns or how and why questions (rather than forms or what questions), and recognition of bounded rationality and satisficing (rather than perfect rationality and utility maximization). It then discusses environment perception, as opposed to object perception, and the psychological process of cognitive mapping. The chapter also looks at the methods of studying mental representations of spatial environments, or the externalization of internal representations. Finally, it discusses research findings about people’s knowledge of environmental distance or cognitive distance.
