Exploration and physical proximity: behavioural manifestations to check place attachment in neighbourhood

Cognitive and emotional dimensions are commonly included in the measurement of place attachment, yet behavioral indicators are often overlooked. While many researchers consider place dependence as the conative component of place attachment, it primarily reflects the functional advantages one location offers over another for performing specific behaviors. Similarly, although place attachment is frequently regarded as an antecedent of various pro-environmental behaviors, this perspective fails to directly assess behaviors that demonstrate the development of place attachment itself. This study aims to measure place attachment through items representing emotional, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions, examine its relationship with place identity, and explore whether places offering security and satisfaction foster proximity-seeking behavior, as suggested by social attachment theory and Aging in place approach. The results indicate that the cognitive-emotional component of place attachment is significantly stronger than its behavioral counterpart. However, both components are markedly lower when the neighborhood is chosen for economic reasons or when residents hold a negative perception of their neighborhood. In addition, favourable conditions and strong relationships with neighbours, which are considered important elements of the social capital of a place, are essential for the development of the behavioural component. In contrast, only the cognitive-emotional component significantly influences place identity. Lastly, the behavioral component accounts for the greatest variance in physical proximity to the neighborhood, underscoring the importance of behavioral manifestations in establishing an attachment bond.