Peter Stringer

Toward a symbiosis of social psychology and tourism studies

Abstract This introductory paper indicates some of the characteristics of a sociopsychological perspective on tourism studies. Brief points are made about the nature of both psychology and social psychology as academic disciplines which might serve tourism research. More particular attention is paid to the “models of Man” argument and to issues in the application of social psychology. It is suggested that fruitful interaction between social psychology and tourism studies may be achieved by a nonparasitic relationship and by an increase in pre-paradigmatic research.

Studies in the socio-environmental psychology of tourism

Abstract Aspects of six graduate theses are described in order to illustrate the potential contribution of social psychology to tourism studies. Their topics are images of tropical holidays, design of holiday brochures, international travel mode choice, family roles on holiday, and long-distance travel and sightseeing. Particular attention is drawn to their theoretical rationale and methodology, to certain environmental questions, and to directions and choices for future research.

Research on residential thermal comfort: some contributions from environmental psychology

Abstract Recent research on thermal comfort is reviewed, with particular reference to contributions from environmental psychology. Three trends are distinguished, and delineated in terms of their concepts, methodology and research results. The major and earliest trend is physicalistic, laboratory-based and normative; the second adopts a more psychological and multivariate approach, using field-studies; finally, the most recent is an applied orientation which focuses on issues of energy-conservation. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the direction of future research on thermal comfort.

Measuring Fear of Crime in Residential Environments

The literature on “fear of crime” is reviewed from a socio-psychological point of view. The lack of conceptual, methodological and empirical refinement is noted and some possible remedies are offered. A model of fear of crime is described which links feelings of unsafety in residential surroundings to five psychological elements. An elaborated measuring instrument exemplifies the multi-layered approach to “fear” and “neighbourhood”. Empirical findings from a survey in four neighbourhoods in the Netherlands show how the use of this more sensitive instument gives rise to a rich set of data, which can be analysed by interpreting the answers to different kinds of question in a complementary fashion.