Analysis and Research Implications of the Concepts of Sense of Place, Place Attachment and Place Identity

Sense of place, place attachment and place identity have become the important hotspots in cultural geography studies. However, there is no consensus on how to define these concepts and the relations among them remain unclear. This paper reviewed the relevant literatures to make clear the meaning of these concepts and the relations among them. The followings are the main points of view: 1. Sense of place is a dynamic and inclusive concept which includes two dimensions of place attachment and place identity. 2. Place attachment and place identity are two related but different with their own unique contents which should be differentiated effectively in future studies. 3. Place attachment has influence on place identity and both of them will help to build sense of place. Finally, the paper points out that future research should: 1. highlight the uniqueness of place itself in concept construction; 2. make use of diverse research methods; 3. distinguish spatial scales of sense of place; 4. emphasize the dynamic point of view in study of sense of place.