Image & Environment

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Cognitive mapping encompasses the processes that allow individuals to acquire, code, store, recall, and manipulate information about their spatial environment. It involves understanding the attributes and locations of people and objects, playing a crucial role in spatial decision-making, such as finding safe routes, identifying potential sites for homes or businesses, and planning vacations. These cognitive processes evolve with age and experience. This pioneering study introduces a new academic discipline to a broad audience, organized into six sections: "Theory," "Cognitive Representations," "Spatial Preferences," "The Development of Spatial Cognition," "Geographical and Spatial Orientation," and "Cognitive Distance." Notable contributors include Edward Tolman, James Blaut, Stephen Kaplan, and many others. Roger M. Downs, head of the Department of Geography at Pennsylvania State University, and David Stea, professor at Southwest Texas State University, lead the work. Downs holds a Ph.D. in geography from the University of Bristol, while Stea earned his Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University. The volume aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of cognitive mapping and its implications for spatial awareness and decision-making.