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Cognitive map of Slovenia: Spatial representations and identity

Profile image of Grega RepovšGrega Repovš

2004, Psychology Science

Abstract
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This research explores the cognitive maps of Slovenia, emphasizing how spatial representations influence perceptions of identity and place. Drawing on historical and contemporary cartographic practices, the paper examines the evolution of these maps and their implications for understanding human-environment interactions. Through various case studies, the study highlights the significance of cognitive maps in shaping societal views and preferences, particularly in light of Slovenia's impending integration into the European Union.

Figures (22)
Figure 1: Sebastian Miinster’s map DESCRIPTIO TOTIUS ILLYRIDIS from 1542. Original version was black and white, present version, from the year 1552, is from the collection of Drago Novak (Bonn), and is believed to arise from the Miinster’s Cosmography.
Figure 1: Sebastian Miinster’s map DESCRIPTIO TOTIUS ILLYRIDIS from 1542. Original version was black and white, present version, from the year 1552, is from the collection of Drago Novak (Bonn), and is believed to arise from the Miinster’s Cosmography.
Figure 2: Valvasor’s map of Hertzogthums Crain (1689).
Figure 2: Valvasor’s map of Hertzogthums Crain (1689).
Figure 3: Peter Kozler’s map of Slovenia from 1853 pleading for United Slovenia.
Figure 3: Peter Kozler’s map of Slovenia from 1853 pleading for United Slovenia.
their spatial structure, e. g. by distinctiveness of their boundaries, by a number of busy streets traversing them, by presence of a park, etc. were compared. Altogether 252 participants (126 married couples), inhabitants of the communities, participated in the survey. Participants had to indicate the boundaries of their communities on the town map, and that part of the town around their homes that they used the most and believed that it “belongs to them”. They also had to answer a number of other questions about the life in their community and their wishes about it. Figure 4: City map of Ljubljana with borders of three local communities, Ajdovscina (A), Gradisce (G) and Ledina (L), and socio-spatial schemes of women participants (50 for Ajdovscina, 60 for Gradisce and 16 for Ledina) from these local communities are presented (Poli¢ et al., 1984). The local community Ajdovscina spread also to the neighbouring park Tivoli).
their spatial structure, e. g. by distinctiveness of their boundaries, by a number of busy streets traversing them, by presence of a park, etc. were compared. Altogether 252 participants (126 married couples), inhabitants of the communities, participated in the survey. Participants had to indicate the boundaries of their communities on the town map, and that part of the town around their homes that they used the most and believed that it “belongs to them”. They also had to answer a number of other questions about the life in their community and their wishes about it. Figure 4: City map of Ljubljana with borders of three local communities, Ajdovscina (A), Gradisce (G) and Ledina (L), and socio-spatial schemes of women participants (50 for Ajdovscina, 60 for Gradisce and 16 for Ledina) from these local communities are presented (Poli¢ et al., 1984). The local community Ajdovscina spread also to the neighbouring park Tivoli).
Figure 5: Averaged “positive” and “negative” socio-spatial scheme (Poli¢ et al., 1991) In a study investigating the attitudes of the inhabitants of the small town Grosuplje to : svelopment (Polié et al., 1991), a random sample of 393 inhabitants was questioned abo fferent aspects of the place and possibilities of its development. One part of the questionnai as also devoted to their preferences for different places. The procedure for acquiring the s led socio-spatial scheme (Lee, 1968) was used, supplemented also with its negative aspec here participants had to indicate places, they did not admit as theirs. While preferred plac ynsisted mainly of areas around their homes, downtown and the area around the prima hool, the places they did not like were more homogenous, located around industry, bi ation, etc. These were evaluated as unpleasant, neglected, polluted, etc.
Figure 5: Averaged “positive” and “negative” socio-spatial scheme (Poli¢ et al., 1991) In a study investigating the attitudes of the inhabitants of the small town Grosuplje to : svelopment (Polié et al., 1991), a random sample of 393 inhabitants was questioned abo fferent aspects of the place and possibilities of its development. One part of the questionnai as also devoted to their preferences for different places. The procedure for acquiring the s led socio-spatial scheme (Lee, 1968) was used, supplemented also with its negative aspec here participants had to indicate places, they did not admit as theirs. While preferred plac ynsisted mainly of areas around their homes, downtown and the area around the prima hool, the places they did not like were more homogenous, located around industry, bi ation, etc. These were evaluated as unpleasant, neglected, polluted, etc.
Beside Triglav National Park, there is also a number of smaller local country parks in Slovenia. Since proclamation of certain regions as a park also brings certain limitation of its use by the owners and the general public, feelings towards such proclamations can be ambivalent sometimes. In 1991, there was a public discussion in Grosuplje* about proclamation of the part of countryside, the Radensko field, as a country park. In a survey that included 254 inhabitants of the community (from the smaller villages laying around the proposed park), the participants were asked to indicate on a cartographic map the locations of the best agricultural land as well as boundaries of the park as they imagine it. Figure 6: Location of the best agricultural land (a) and proposed country park (b) (Polié et al., 1991). Answer of every participant was copied to the same transparency.
Beside Triglav National Park, there is also a number of smaller local country parks in Slovenia. Since proclamation of certain regions as a park also brings certain limitation of its use by the owners and the general public, feelings towards such proclamations can be ambivalent sometimes. In 1991, there was a public discussion in Grosuplje* about proclamation of the part of countryside, the Radensko field, as a country park. In a survey that included 254 inhabitants of the community (from the smaller villages laying around the proposed park), the participants were asked to indicate on a cartographic map the locations of the best agricultural land as well as boundaries of the park as they imagine it. Figure 6: Location of the best agricultural land (a) and proposed country park (b) (Polié et al., 1991). Answer of every participant was copied to the same transparency.
Floods are a common phenomenon in Slovenia. Celje — especially its newer parts — often are their victims, while the threat is not equally spread throughout the town. As the awareness of the danger is an important factor that influences inhabitants’ preparation, the objective of the study (Polié et al., 1998) was to gain insight into the inhabitants’ perception of the danger. A random sample of 157 town-dwellers of three unequally endangered parts of the town were questioned about their experiences of floods, and asked to indicate on the map what they believed were the most threatened parts of the town. Figure 7: Map of Celje (threatened parts are indicated with the line) and parts of it threatened because of floods as perceived by the inhabitants of three parts of the town (Polié et al., 1998)
Floods are a common phenomenon in Slovenia. Celje — especially its newer parts — often are their victims, while the threat is not equally spread throughout the town. As the awareness of the danger is an important factor that influences inhabitants’ preparation, the objective of the study (Polié et al., 1998) was to gain insight into the inhabitants’ perception of the danger. A random sample of 157 town-dwellers of three unequally endangered parts of the town were questioned about their experiences of floods, and asked to indicate on the map what they believed were the most threatened parts of the town. Figure 7: Map of Celje (threatened parts are indicated with the line) and parts of it threatened because of floods as perceived by the inhabitants of three parts of the town (Polié et al., 1998)
During 1998 — 2000, an extense study of the cognitive map of Slovenia was conducted (Polié et al., 2000). It was supported by the grant from the Ministry of Environment that regarded a cognitive map of Slovenia as an important tool in the preparation of the Plan of Spatial Development of Slovenia. An interdisciplinary group of researchers* dealt with the problem presented. For possible comparisons, the satellite photograph of Slovenia is presented in Figure 8. Figure 8: Satellite photograph of Slovenia with drawn borders (Enciklopedija Slovenije, vol. 11, 1997).
During 1998 — 2000, an extense study of the cognitive map of Slovenia was conducted (Polié et al., 2000). It was supported by the grant from the Ministry of Environment that regarded a cognitive map of Slovenia as an important tool in the preparation of the Plan of Spatial Development of Slovenia. An interdisciplinary group of researchers* dealt with the problem presented. For possible comparisons, the satellite photograph of Slovenia is presented in Figure 8. Figure 8: Satellite photograph of Slovenia with drawn borders (Enciklopedija Slovenije, vol. 11, 1997).
Figure 9: Contour of Slovenia with elements that appeared at least 100 times (Polié et al., 2000). The image of the country could be established in a number of ways. We can search for people’s knowledge about it, their preferences, beliefs, comparisons, symbols, etc. Drawing of the map by memory was systematically introduced by Lynch (1960) in the study of the mental map of cities, but is well applicable also on a larger scale (e. g. Saarinen, 1973). Drawing the map of Slovenia inside given boundaries clearly showed that three large parts of Slovenia exists: the generally known and the locally known, as well as unknown Slovenia, namely places that were known to the majority of people, and those that hardly anyone remembered or were only of local importance. Within 13.713 places drawn by 1291 respondents, towns presented the majority of the elements drawn, while mountains, lakes, rivers and other places were less frequent. The answers given were under the great influence of current cultural images of what is characteristic of Slovenia, and coloured by their regional attachments, which shows that not only memory, but also values, attitudes and symbolic characteristics of the elements play an important role in determining the cognitive map.
Figure 9: Contour of Slovenia with elements that appeared at least 100 times (Polié et al., 2000). The image of the country could be established in a number of ways. We can search for people’s knowledge about it, their preferences, beliefs, comparisons, symbols, etc. Drawing of the map by memory was systematically introduced by Lynch (1960) in the study of the mental map of cities, but is well applicable also on a larger scale (e. g. Saarinen, 1973). Drawing the map of Slovenia inside given boundaries clearly showed that three large parts of Slovenia exists: the generally known and the locally known, as well as unknown Slovenia, namely places that were known to the majority of people, and those that hardly anyone remembered or were only of local importance. Within 13.713 places drawn by 1291 respondents, towns presented the majority of the elements drawn, while mountains, lakes, rivers and other places were less frequent. The answers given were under the great influence of current cultural images of what is characteristic of Slovenia, and coloured by their regional attachments, which shows that not only memory, but also values, attitudes and symbolic characteristics of the elements play an important role in determining the cognitive map.
To identify the importance of different elements, we asked participants about the importance t for the identity of Slovenia. Figure 10: Importance for the identity of Slovenia (Polié et al., 2000)
To identify the importance of different elements, we asked participants about the importance t for the identity of Slovenia. Figure 10: Importance for the identity of Slovenia (Polié et al., 2000)
Many of the assessed elements were judged to be important for the identity of Slovenia. Mountains, vineyards, lakes and national customs were the most highly judged ones. Answers, of course, revealed more about respondents’ own beliefs, their mental image of Slovenia, than about the importance of these characteristics for foreign perception of Slovenia. Figure 11: “Kozolec” (corn-rack) is one of the symbols of Slovenia. The picture is taken from Valvasors’s (1689) Die Ehre dess Hertzogthums Crain.
Many of the assessed elements were judged to be important for the identity of Slovenia. Mountains, vineyards, lakes and national customs were the most highly judged ones. Answers, of course, revealed more about respondents’ own beliefs, their mental image of Slovenia, than about the importance of these characteristics for foreign perception of Slovenia. Figure 11: “Kozolec” (corn-rack) is one of the symbols of Slovenia. The picture is taken from Valvasors’s (1689) Die Ehre dess Hertzogthums Crain.
What we also found interesting is the comparison of Slovenia to other European countries as revealed by the question, which European countries are the most similar to Slovenia in regard to different characteristics of life and environment. Figure 12: Perception of the similarity of different European countries to Slovenia regarding different characteristics (Polié et al., 2000)
What we also found interesting is the comparison of Slovenia to other European countries as revealed by the question, which European countries are the most similar to Slovenia in regard to different characteristics of life and environment. Figure 12: Perception of the similarity of different European countries to Slovenia regarding different characteristics (Polié et al., 2000)
therefore relevant questions were included into the questionnaire. There were two general questions that we wanted to be answered. First, what are the existing destinations of short- term mobility and second, how eager are respondents to move to and live in other European countries. Figure 13: The most frequent destinations of short-term mobility outside Slovenia (Poli¢ et al., 2000).
therefore relevant questions were included into the questionnaire. There were two general questions that we wanted to be answered. First, what are the existing destinations of short- term mobility and second, how eager are respondents to move to and live in other European countries. Figure 13: The most frequent destinations of short-term mobility outside Slovenia (Poli¢ et al., 2000).
Figure 14: Preferences for living in different European countries — range order of mean: (Polié et al., 2000)
Figure 14: Preferences for living in different European countries — range order of mean: (Polié et al., 2000)
Figure 15: The tree diagram for preferences of 38 countries (Poli¢ et al., 2000).
Figure 15: The tree diagram for preferences of 38 countries (Poli¢ et al., 2000).
Figure 16: Probability of moving to other countries in Europe (Polié et al., 2000) Figure 17: Willingness to move (Polié et al., 2000)
Figure 16: Probability of moving to other countries in Europe (Polié et al., 2000) Figure 17: Willingness to move (Polié et al., 2000)
For predicting any movements, evaluation of the probability of migration, perhaps is a important question.
For predicting any movements, evaluation of the probability of migration, perhaps is a important question.
Figure 19: Importance of different characteristics of place for living preferences (Polié et al., 2000)
Figure 19: Importance of different characteristics of place for living preferences (Polié et al., 2000)
Figure 20: Range of attachment (Poli¢ et al., 2000)
Figure 20: Range of attachment (Poli¢ et al., 2000)
Figure 21: Perceived (black) and real (grey) road distances between eight major cities and towns in Slovenia. Coefficient of Alienation for the two dimensional solution for perceived distances was 0.00, what is highly acceptable (Polié et al., 2000). Distances
Figure 21: Perceived (black) and real (grey) road distances between eight major cities and towns in Slovenia. Coefficient of Alienation for the two dimensional solution for perceived distances was 0.00, what is highly acceptable (Polié et al., 2000). Distances
One of the important questions that Slovenia still has to face is the formation of regions. The answers to the questions, whether there should be regions at all, how many regions to form, what should the regions include and others are biased to a wide spectrum of knowledge, ignorance, political issues, personal experiences, fear, historical development, economical situation and regional identity. Only about 25% of the participants believed that regions were important while others thought that there was nothing wrong with the current situation. If Slovenia would form regions, most of the participants think that 5 to 8 regions would be enough. To be able to put forward a good starting proposal, we believe that the mental image of the inhabitants from and around the regional centres they gravitate to, is crucial. To be able to gain insight into the mental map of Slovenian regions, we asked the participants to name the city or town that for them should be the centre of their region and indicate the communities that should belong to it. Two examples of reconstructed regions are presented in figure 22. Figure 22: The communities perceived as belonging to Ljubljana or Maribor region by the inhabitants of the respected statistical regions which are actually much smaller (Polié et al., 2000). Ljubljana and Maribor are the two biggest cities in Slovenia and “old rivals”.
One of the important questions that Slovenia still has to face is the formation of regions. The answers to the questions, whether there should be regions at all, how many regions to form, what should the regions include and others are biased to a wide spectrum of knowledge, ignorance, political issues, personal experiences, fear, historical development, economical situation and regional identity. Only about 25% of the participants believed that regions were important while others thought that there was nothing wrong with the current situation. If Slovenia would form regions, most of the participants think that 5 to 8 regions would be enough. To be able to put forward a good starting proposal, we believe that the mental image of the inhabitants from and around the regional centres they gravitate to, is crucial. To be able to gain insight into the mental map of Slovenian regions, we asked the participants to name the city or town that for them should be the centre of their region and indicate the communities that should belong to it. Two examples of reconstructed regions are presented in figure 22. Figure 22: The communities perceived as belonging to Ljubljana or Maribor region by the inhabitants of the respected statistical regions which are actually much smaller (Polié et al., 2000). Ljubljana and Maribor are the two biggest cities in Slovenia and “old rivals”.

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david stea

Theories of Mapping Practice and Cartographic Representation, 2011

At the start of the 1970s, it was intellectually fashionable amongst behavioural geographers to investigate the significance of cognitive maps, and their impacts on people's spatial behaviour. Downs and Stea's book was probably the most influential overview of the field and brought together papers from almost all of the leading exponents of this kind of research. We have excerpted Chapter 1, which explores the dimensions of cognitive mapping, distinguishing between cartographic images and the cognitive constructs that are the focus of their attention. This conceptual piece is informed by a communications model of information transmission and explores processes and defines concepts underpinning research. The authors define the concepts of perception, cognition, attitude and preference, before explaining the differences between what people need to know and what they actually know. Amongst other concepts they focus on differences between locational and attribute information, the role of incomplete, distorted, schematised, and augmented cognitive maps, and some of the behavioural reasons for the mismatch between theory and practice. They conclude by urging further experimental investigation of behavioural evidence of cognitive mapping.

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Assessment of Perception of Physical Environment in the Context of Cognitive Maps and Experiences
Hasan ÜNVER

Spatial Cognition and Cognitive Maps [Working Title], 2019

Experiences in the physical environment awaken different perceptions in different people and enable the formation of an environmental image in people's minds during and after use. The campuses are also the physical environments in which students from different cultural, ethnic, and social backgrounds spend part of their lives during their education. In the formation of the environmental image, it is important that the students choose, organize, and add meaning to what they see in line with their own needs and goals. In this way, the image formed in the minds of the students limits what is seen, while emphasizing what is important according to their own mental orientation. In this context, the students are asked to draw the cognitive maps of the Meselik Campus of Eskisehir Osmangazi University. The obtained cognitive maps are examined, and the image elements used are evaluated statistically. As a result of the evaluation, it is seen that the students emphasize the reference points and the roads first. In this study, cognitive maps of first and fourth grade architectural students were evaluated separately and then compared with each other in order to determine the change of time factor in students' perception and the effect of architectural education on expression techniques.

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