Understanding the relationship between smoking and place across multiple places through the lens of place attachment

摘要

This article explores the psychological processes of place attachment across multiple public and private places and makes an empirical contribution in a smoking context. The study focuses on the range of places that smokers use, the place attachment process within those places, and the relevancy of place for the self-concept. A qualitative approach was adopted and consisted of interviews with 30 UK smokers. Three themes capture the processes by which smokers form attachments to smoking places, namely: seclusion and concealment, sociality, and control. Although smokers' attachments with public and private places are grounded in their daily routine or habit, the person-place bond occurs depending on the benefits that are sought, and the meanings ascribed to the places. In some circumstances the traditional notion of a private place is challenged as public places are re signified as private places. Overall, our findings provide additional insights into the processes of place attachment in an under-explored behavioral context.