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Spatial Inequalities, Geographically-Based Discrimination and Environmental Quality of Life

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Handbook of Environmental Psychology and Quality of Life Research

Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life ((IHQL))

Abstract

Residential segregation and social and spatial disparities are prevailing features among many European and American cities. These phenomena belong to social and spatial segregation, which is characterized by the differential distribution of groups within areal units and by the possibilities of various interactions between individuals who belong to similar or different groups. Social and spatial segregation can thus produce discrimination, which the present chapter addresses as an emerging question, while taking into account its institutional factors and psychological impacts. More precisely, this chapter focuses on the ways in which individuals, who live in discriminated residential places, perceive this discrimination, identify with their dwelling place and appropriate it. Our aim is also to investigate two psychological effects of perceived discrimination, namely self-esteem and well-being. Thus, we first argue that identification with one’s place of residence is a fundamental process in the individual’s relationship with such a place. Drawing on the psychosocial models of place identification, we then show how social and spatial discrimination can be experienced by the inhabitants of stigmatized neighborhoods and how spatial inequalities can influence the levels of residential satisfaction and quality of life. Lastly, we describe the ways in which discriminated individuals resort to several adaptive strategies so as to maintain a certain level of self-esteem, and, ultimately, of well-being.

*Authors contributed equally to this chapter.

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    1. University of Nantes, Nantes, France

      Ghozlane Fleury-Bahi & André Ndobo

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    1. Ghozlane Fleury-Bahi
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    1. Faculty of Psychology, University of Nantes, Nantes, France

      Ghozlane Fleury-Bahi

    2. Department of Social Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

      Enric Pol

    3. Faculty of Psychology, University of Nantes, Nantes, France

      Oscar Navarro

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    Fleury-Bahi, G., Ndobo, A. (2017). Spatial Inequalities, Geographically-Based Discrimination and Environmental Quality of Life. In: Fleury-Bahi, G., Pol, E., Navarro, O. (eds) Handbook of Environmental Psychology and Quality of Life Research. International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31416-7_18

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