TERRITORIAL DEFENSE AND GOOD NEIGHBOR

Designed a series of questionnaire and experimental studies to explore how people mark out and defend space in public areas. The use of space is affected by instructions to defend actively the area or retreat, by room density, and by the location of walls, doors, and other physical barriers. Under light population pressure, most markers are capable of reserving space in a public area, but more personal markers have the greatest effect. As room density increases, the effect of the marker is seen in delaying occupancy of the area and in holding onto a smaller subarea within the larger space. Neighbors play an important part in legitimizing a system of space ownership. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.