Urban Psychology: Cognition of and Interaction with Urban Environments through Narratives

Dear Colleagues,

The current development of psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science and linguistics has led to new interpretations of urban experience, with previously inaccessible aspects coming to light, as new areas of inquiry unveil the complexity of our engagement with our surroundings. Additionally, the topics of the cognitive city, place attachment, urban dynamics and resilience have recently gained academic attention and therefore they should be reflected in the context of new trends and developments. Therefore, we are opening this Special Issue. This Special Issue attempts to collect various research activities and interpretations related to our understanding of urban environments in connection with positive psychology, cognitive science, neurophenomenology, physical and mental health and also well-being. It does so by placing emphasis on the role of narrative in urban experience: how are urban places narrated, and how do stories influence urban experience? Is it conceivable that narratives also offer projective modes of understanding the city, allowing for visions of future urban developments? Could urban designs be aided by a careful employment of local urban narratives?  Cognition—which is understood as “the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses” – could be expressed in stories, combining conceptual, experiential and embodied aspects of urban dynamics. Connecting the interest in urban experience to the fields of sociolinguistics and psycholinguistic can thus help us to improve the understanding of the environment we dwell in, ultimately impacting on our health and well-being.

Dr. Marcel Pikhart
Prof. Dr. Klaske Havik
Mr. Carlos Machado e Moura
Guest Editors

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