چكيده لاتين
To begin with, it is crucial to emphasize that this dissertation should not be categorized within medical geography or health geography. Instead, what is presented here relies more on cognitive sciences in geography. Accordingly, it starts with a new concept in geomorphology, namely, Space identity. Space identity is not only reflected in human emotional and experiential behavior and knowledge, but many researchers also believe that its effects on the epistemological patterns of societies are significant and undeniable. In fact, the processing and transmission of information by the nervous system are related to language, perception, memory, attention, wisdom, and emotions. In this context, geomorphologists, by proposing the concept of Space identity, aim to emphasize the connection between the unique features of a place and human emotional wisdom. In other words, they consider emotional wisdom as the link between the identity of a place and rational human decisions in emotional reactions to the surrounding natural environment. This raises the question of how and in what areas Space identity aids emotional wisdom in making rational human decisions.
One could argue that many human emotions, expressed in concepts such as Homesickness, Nostalgia, and Dysthymia, have a specific relationship with the concept of space identity. Understanding how space identity can influence human behavior and emotions in these areas is among the critical questions for researchers in the humanities, cognitive sciences and neuroscience. This dissertation aims to address these questions using a phenomenological and meta-analytical approach, drawing on field and experimental data across three distinct stages.
In the first stage, four geographical theories and one philosophical theory related to this field were analyzed, and their main principles were identified. This stage laid the groundwork for the development of the questionnaires used in the experimental stage. The second stage was based on a statistical population of dormitory students at the University of Isfahan, considering the type of studentsʹ attachment to social structures (nomadic, rural, and urban) and their field of study, forming the foundation for the empirical observation in this dissertation. In the third stage, studentsʹ feelings from visiting two different physical environments (the space of Khajou Bridge in Isfahan and the space of the courthouse) were assessed. Additionally, their emotions were evaluated through the observation of abstract images and scenes. The relationship between Space identity and their feelings, in terms of Nostalgia, Dysthymia, and Homesickness, was then assessed based on their responses to the questionnaires.
The findings of this research, derived from documentary data as theoretical experiences of scientists in the fields of cognitive sciences and Space identity, as well as practical experiences and experiments, suggest several important principles that can be summarized as follows:
a) A place not only influences individualsʹ cognition and the expression of emotions but also plays a significant role in the recall of memories in their minds.
b) In pleasant places, individualsʹ minds recall positive and recent experiences, whereas in unpleasant places, more distant memories are recalled.
c) Oneʹs field of study and personal experiences influence how memories are reconstructed and how this affects their epistemology.
d) Experiences of Nostalgia, Homesickness, and Dysthymia impact brain function, hormonal changes, and consequently the behavioral responses of the bodyʹs physiological systems. In some cases, physiological disorders caused by hormonal changes stemming from cognitive memory occur, which are sometimes considered medical conditions. However, these disorders are related to individualsʹ cognitive processes.
