Key Terms: The Nature & Importance of Places (AQA A Level Geography): Revision Note

Concept of place - key terms

Attachment to place – Emotional or psychological connection people form with locations through lived experience or perception.

Clone town – A place that lacks distinctiveness due to the dominance of global chain stores, often seen as contributing to placelessness.

Identity and place – The way people define themselves based on their relationship with places, often shaped by experiences and memories.

Localism – A preference or emotional investment in one’s local area.

Meaning of place – The significance attached to a location, transforming it from just a space into a ‘place’.

Nationalism – A strong sense of belonging to a nation, often expressed through patriotism and identity rooted in national place.

Perception – The way a place is understood or imagined by individuals, even without direct experience.

Place – Space that has meaning; defined not only by location but also by human experiences and emotions.

Place perspective – The combination of direct (lived) experiences and indirect (media-based) perceptions that shape how people view a place.

Sense of place – The subjective and emotional attachment people have to a location, giving it meaning and identity.

Topophilia – A strong positive emotional connection to a place.

Topophobia – A strong negative emotional reaction or aversion to a place.

Yi-Fu Tuan – A geographer who proposed that attachment and understanding of place grow with age and experience.

Perspectives on place - key terms

Exclusion – The process by which certain individuals or groups are made to feel unwelcome or unable to participate fully in a place (socially or spatially).

Insider perspective – A view held by people who are familiar with a place, often born or residing there, and who understand its customs and norms.

Outsider perspective – The view of someone who may not feel connected or accepted in a place due to unfamiliarity, ethnicity, identity, or other social factors.

Placelessness – The idea that some places lack unique identity or meaning, often due to globalisation and homogenisation.

Placemaking – The planning and design of public spaces that promote people’s health, happiness, and well-being, but may also create inclusion or exclusion.

Social construct – The idea that places are shaped by society, culture, and social norms rather than just physical attributes.

Spatial inclusion/exclusion – How physical design and social norms determine who is included or excluded from using or feeling welcome in a space.

Categories of place - key terms

Constructed place – Places that are imagined or designed to resemble others, such as theme parks or fictional settings like Hogwarts.

Experienced place – A location a person has physically visited and interacted with, which contributes to a personal sense of place.

Far place – A place perceived as physically or emotionally distant, either geographically or culturally.

Genus loci – The unique spirit or atmosphere of a place, only truly understood through direct experience.

Imagined place – A location that exists in books, films, or games but not in the real world, yet still shapes perceptions.

Media place – A place known through media representations rather than direct experience, such as through news, film, or social media.

Near place – A place that is physically close or emotionally familiar, often associated with strong personal connection.

Real place – A genuine location with a distinctive identity developed over time, often visited or inhabited.

Time-space compression – The concept that technology and transport advancements make distant places feel closer or more accessible.

Character of place - key terms

Architectural style – The design and appearance of buildings, influenced by local materials and traditions, contributing to a place’s unique identity.

Demographic characteristics – Attributes of a population, such as age, ethnicity, and population density, that help shape the feel and identity of a place.

Economic characteristics – The dominant industries and types of employment in an area (e.g. primary, secondary, tertiary), which shape land use and identity.

Endogenous factors – Internal factors that shape a place’s character, such as topography, geology, land use, and demographics.

Exogenous factors – External influences on a place’s character, including migration, investment, and flows of people, goods, or ideas.

Flows – Movements of people, resources, money, or ideas that influence a place’s identity and development (e.g. migration or Americanisation).

Infrastructure – The physical systems (transport, communication, utilities) that support a place and influence its accessibility and character.

Land use – The way land is utilised (e.g. industrial, residential, agricultural), impacting the visual and functional identity of a place.