Researcher talks about place attachment that shapes politics

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – As Election Day approaches, a researcher shares his findings on how people’s connections to physical spaces influence their political beliefs and behavior.

Dr. Benjamin Blankenship, an assistant professor of psychology at James Madison University, has explored a concept he describes as place identity. Place identity refers to how people see themselves in relation to where they live, such as their city or state. Blankenship notes that place identity influences political attitudes and that people with strong place attachments often resist change.

Blankenship explains that this resistance can be seen in issues like immigration and housing, where changes in community demographics or the addition of new housing projects can threaten people’s sense of place.

“People who have a strong sense of attachment or connection to a place tend not to want to see that place change,” he says. This resistance is in line with conservative profiles, which often favor stability and preservation.

He also highlights how these attitudes affect trust in government, which can fluctuate depending on which party is in power. He notes that people with high place attachment often want assurance that the government will not implement changes they oppose. Blankenship explains how place attachment can influence people’s political expectations and their level of trust in government institutions.

“Do (people) trust that the government will not implement the change I don’t want to see, or, on the other hand, will help promote the change I do want to see?”

Blankenship notes that personality traits such as openness to experience also play a role in how individuals connect to a place. People high in openness tend to be more progressive and less attached to specific places, often identifying as “global citizens” rather than having strong local ties.

“People who score higher in openness to experience tend to have lower attachment to place,” Blankenship explains.

Blankenship explains how policymakers can improve their communication on important issues by understanding these dynamics. He suggests that conservatives might focus on placing attachments in their posts, while progressives might focus their posts on broader human rights or global issues. He believes this approach can help leaders engage with communities more effectively.

“The biggest lesson that policymakers and politicians can take from this is to realize that different groups of people have different meanings of certain places. So if you’re trying to advocate for a particular policy, say on immigration or housing or whatever, think about how that place attachment is going to play out to those different groups,” Blankenship said.