Childhood hazard encounters at Australian beaches and their influence on attachment behaviours in adulthood. Issue 2 (16th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walton, Todd R.; Shaw, Wendy S.
• Is Part Of: Area. Volume 53:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 326
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2020-12-16
• Subjects: Australian beach -- childhood experiences -- geographical psychoanalysis -- hazards -- IPA -- place attachment; Geography -- Periodicals; 910
• DOI: 10.1111/area.12688
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-0894

Abstract

Abstract : In‐depth interviews with beach users indicate that early memories of the Australian beach space underpin pleasures derived from re‐experiencing childhood hazard encounters. The importance of reliving remembered affects is demonstrated to underpin place attachment and identity. Experiences of the sublime in nature also work to enamour beachgoers to revisit beaches despite early encounters with hazards that, in other environments, might allay re‐use. Narrative analysis and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of beachgoer narratives combined with psychoanalytic geographies unpack the influence of experience on behaviour and how individuals perceived and made sense of childhood beach encounters in their adult lives. Abstract : Early encounters with dynamic Australian beaches are shown to enamour attachment to these spaces. Concepts in psychoanalytic geography and psychology are drawn on to explain such attachments.