The mobile hermit and the city: considering links between places, objects, and identities in social psychological research on homelessness.
This article explores aspects of a homeless man's everyday life and his use of material objects to maintain a sense of place in the city. We are interested in the complex functions of walking, listening and reading as social practices central to how this man forges a life as a mobile hermit across physical and imagined locales. This highlights connections between physical place, use of material objects, imagination, and sense of self. Our analysis illustrates the value of paying attention to geographical locations and objects in social psychological research on homelessness.
Hodgetts
Darrin J
DJ
Department of Psychology, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. dhdgetts@waikato.ac.nz
Stolte
Ottilie
O
Chamberlain
Kerry
K
Radley
Alan
A
Groot
Shiloh
S
Nikora
Linda Waimarie
LW
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D002755:Choice Behavior; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D009520:New Zealand; D009769:Object Attachment; D010550:Personal Space; D011593:Psychology, Social; D011932:Reading; D012106:Research; D012449:Safety; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D012933:Social Identification; D012934:Social Isolation; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013800:Theft / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology