Cognitive Geography

Cognitive geography is the study of how people perceive and understand the spaces and places around them. It explores how our mental maps—our internal representations of the world—affect our behavior, decisions, and interactions with our environment. This field examines factors like personal experiences, cultural influences, and emotional connections that shape our geographic thoughts, helping us understand why some places feel familiar or significant, while others do not. By studying cognitive geography, researchers gain insights into human spatial behavior and how it influences issues such as navigation, urban planning, and social relationships.