Citation

Purcell AT. Build. Environ. 1987; 22(3): 215-232.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0360-1323(87)90010-2

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The discussion of the relationship between buildings and behaviour has largely been conducted in terms of a deterministic, causal model based on the physical sciences vs a phenomenenological model based on humanistic psychology and geography. It is argued that neither of these models as they have been presented can take account of the complexity of the physical environment, the complexity of human experience and behaviour and the equally complex possible relationships between the two. The processes through which such relationships might come about are examined and a model of mental representation based on prototypes is developed. This model can encompass both the fact that instances of an environmental category may differ greatly in their physical attributes and that the experiences and behaviours associated with an environmental category are graded rather than all or none. Evidence is then reviewed to show that this model can also account for other complex relationships between the physical environment and experience and behaviour such as emotional/aesthetic experiences and the memorability of particular buildings and places.