Residents' Perceptions of Territorial Features and Perceived Local Threat

Abstract

A pivotal assumption of work on defensible space theory and territorial signs is that people interpret the presence of defensible space features and territorial signs to mean that occupants have stronger territorial attitudes and behaviors. One purpose of this study was to test this assumption. A second purpose of the study was to examine the impact of perceived local threat on the efficacy of territorial displays. A sample of forty residents, split between those who perceived that they lived in high and low problem neighborhoods, were shown drawings of residential backyards. Results supported the following hypotheses: (1) that the presence of real barriers and plantings are interpreted as a deterrent to intrusion and an indication of stronger occupant territorial attitudes, and (2) that as local perceived threat increases, territorial displays are viewed as less effective deterrents to intrusion. The study also contributes to the fine-grain assessment of the links between physical elements in the environment and expected territorial functioning by showing that the effectiveness of territorial features depends not only on their inherent physical qualities and general symbolic meanings, but also on the social context in which they are perceived to exist.