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Preferences for Landscapes: A Matter of Cultural Determinants or Innate Reflexes that Point to Our Evolutionary Background?

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  • Anna Adevi
  • Patrik Grahn

Abstract

Two different theories exist relating to preferences for landscapes: 1) people prefer certain types of landscape independent of their cultural and ethnic background—preferences are innate; 2) people prefer landscapes experienced during childhood regardless of their appearance owing to learned conceptions—preferences are determined by culture. Our aim was to evaluate relationships among preferences for landscapes and childhood landscapes. Results are based on a questionnaire sent out at random to 2000 people in Sweden, and on a qualitative study comprising 19 people. They show that people: i) feel more at home in the type of landscape they grew up in and more often choose to settle down in this type of landscape, even if they have moved from their childhood region; ii) prefer qualities connected to childhood landscapes. However, some of these qualities, those suggested to be innate, are more preferred than others. In conclusion, people prefer landscapes experienced during childhood, but seem to attach more easily to qualities that are suggested to have an innate significance.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Adevi & Patrik Grahn, 2012. "Preferences for Landscapes: A Matter of Cultural Determinants or Innate Reflexes that Point to Our Evolutionary Background?," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 27-49.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:clarxx:v:37:y:2012:i:1:p:27-49
    DOI: 10.1080/01426397.2011.576884
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Catharine Ward Thompson, 2016. "Editorial: Landscape and Health special issue," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(6), pages 591-597, August.
    2. Xiang Huang & Hao Jiang & Ming Lv, 2023. "Unconscious Processing of Greenery in the Tourism Context: A Breaking Continuous Flash Suppression Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
    3. Sanaz Memari & Mahdieh Pazhouhanfar & Patrik Grahn, 2021. "Perceived Sensory Dimensions of Green Areas: An Experimental Study on Stress Recovery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Theano S. Terkenli & Tryfon Daras & Efpraxia-Aithra Maria, 2019. "Landscape Notions among Greek Engineering Students: Exploring Landscape Perceptions, Knowledge and Participation," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-19, May.
    5. van Zanten, Boris T. & Zasada, Ingo & Koetse, Mark J. & Ungaro, Fabrizio & Häfner, Kati & Verburg, Peter H., 2016. "A comparative approach to assess the contribution of landscape features to aesthetic and recreational values in agricultural landscapes," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 87-98.
    6. Andrés Caballero-Calvo & José Luis Serrano-Montes, 2020. "Influence of Logos on Social Attitudes toward the Landscape of Protected Areas: The Case of National and Natural Parks in Spain," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-15, April.
    7. Adison Altamirano & Carolina Gonzalez-Suhr & Caroline Marien & Germán Catalán & Alejandro Miranda & Marco Prado & Laurent Tits & Lorena Vieli & Paula Meli, 2020. "Landscape Disturbance Gradients: The Importance of the Type of Scene When Evaluating Landscape Preferences and Perceptions," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-23, September.
    8. Terkenli Theano S. & Skowronek Ewa & Tucki Andrzej & Kounellis Nikolaos, 2019. "Toward understanding tourist landscape. a comparative study of locals’ and visitors’ perception in selected destinations in Poland and Greece," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 38(3), pages 81-93, September.
    9. Schaak, Henning & Musshoff, Oliver, 2020. "Public preferences for pasture landscapes in Germany—A latent class analysis of a nationwide discrete choice experiment," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    10. Thomas Beery & K. Ingemar Jönsson & Johan Elmberg, 2015. "From Environmental Connectedness to Sustainable Futures: Topophilia and Human Affiliation with Nature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-18, July.
    11. Jenni Simkin & Ann Ojala & Liisa Tyrväinen, 2021. "The Perceived Restorativeness of Differently Managed Forests and Its Association with Forest Qualities and Individual Variables: A Field Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-26, January.

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