guest ::
| Home > Publications database > Dynamic Landmarks: Exploring Cognitive Maps and Entitativity in Crowds |
| Home > Publications database > Dynamic Landmarks: Exploring Cognitive Maps and Entitativity in Crowds |
| Poster (After Call) | FZJ-2025-05589 |
2025
This record in other databases:
Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.34734/FZJ-2025-05589
Abstract: Cognitive maps—our mental representations of the physical environments around us [1]—have beenextensively researched. However, nearly all studies on cognitive maps, whether focused on navigation,memory, recall, or problem-solving, have examined only static environments, such as city-wide layouts[2, 3], predetermined locations, and buildings [4]. These environments typically feature landmarks (e.g.,BigBen, aschool, akiosk, aspecificroom), towhichindividualscouldattributesocialmeaning [5]. Theselandmarks help individuals form mental representations, serving as fixed anchors or reference markersthat enable them to estimate distances and plan routes with relative accuracy. When dynamic elements,such as other people, were included in research, they were usually treated as interference that disruptedthe cognitive mapping process [6].The aim of this contribution is to report preliminary results and discuss future studies on the extentto which humans can spatially represent dynamic elements—namely, crowds and groups—in their mindsas a ‘mental map.’ To ground this idea, two perspectives must be discussed, and several research methodsneed to be considered. The first perspective, an ‘inside’ perspective, examines whether individuals canmentally project the crowd they are part of. The second perspective takes an ‘outside’ view, focusing onhow people perceive crowds and groups from an external standpoint. Both perspectives involve a dynamicsetting where individuals in groups and crowds behave naturally within their given context, rather thanremaining static.Regarding the ‘inside’ perspective, people appear to navigate crowds effectively or position themselveswithin them—perhaps not as easily as in static conditions, but still to some extent. On one hand, thereare no stable landmarks, the environment is dynamic, and visibility is limited—both due to the forward-facing nature of human vision (unlike birds, which have lateral vision) and obstructions caused by nearbyindividuals. On the other hand, people appear to have a sense of their position and movement withina crowd, either by loosely mapping their immediate surroundings or forming a broader representationof the entire crowd, using various sensory inputs such as vision and auditory cues. Preliminary resultssuggest that individuals can recall the position and shape of a crowd from a bird’s-eye perspective afterbeing part of a crowd formation (of up to 15 people) when asked about a specific time point. Figure 1shows a drawing by one of the participants, illustrating a specific moment from their formation. Notably,participantsreceivednoexplicitinstructionsregardingtheperspectivetheyshoulduse, howtoincorporateenvironmental cues, or the shape in which they should represent people.The ‘outside’ perspective incorporates the long-standing social psychology concept of entitativity,which addresses whether a group or crowd is perceived as a cohesive unit. From this viewpoint, peopleseem able to recognize and interpret the social context of a group accurately [7], potentially projectingand representing it within a spatial framework in their minds, as the group’s occupation of space is oneof its defining characteristics. However, whether this mental representation is driven primarily by thegroup’s social meaning, its physical presence in space, or a combination of multiple factors remains un-explored. While existing literature suggests that group characteristics significantly influence entitativityperceptions [7], the specific role of spatial occupation itself has not yet been investigated. Regarding how to study these perspectives, visual perception—particularly gaze patterns—can pro-vide insight into how people perceive groups. Investigating fixation points may help determine whetherindividuals focus on socially significant elements (e.g., a tour guide in a tour group) or whether theirgaze moves across the entire crowd, scanning its borders, peripheries, or other focal points—not only forspatial awareness and group cohesiveness but also potentially for navigation. Integrating this knowledgewith research on spatial mapping could offer a more detailed understanding of how cognitive maps ofgroups and crowds function. Additionally, sound perception (the sound of the crowd or the broadersoundscape) also plays a role, particularly from the ‘inside’ perspective, where individuals must rely onoccasional visual checks and auditory cues to stay aware of people behind them.To investigate and explore the assumptions outlined above, a comprehensive study of the phenomenonis required. For this purpose, a field study is being planned at Kirchentag, one of Germany’s largestevents—a Protestant church gathering held in Hannover, which attracts approximately 100,000 peoplefrom around the world. In this study, a predetermined route will be used to navigate streets withcrowds to examine the ‘outside’ perspective. Additionally, an event venue and the crowd in front ofthe participants will serve as the setting for investigating the ‘inside’ perspective, as participants will beinstructed to remain within this crowd. Eye-tracking data, first-person videos, and audio recordings willbe collected using NEON eye-trackers [8]. Participants will also complete questionnaires and self-drawnrepresentations to assess their cognitive representations of the environment and their perception of groupcohesiveness when encountering crowds or being part of one.Investigating these aspects and examining how they perform in real-world contexts would broaden ourunderstanding and hold significant relevance for various topics within pedestrian dynamics. In particular,spatial representation plays a crucial role in how individuals choose routes and make decisions, making ita key factor in navigation. Fields such as robotics are already trying to integrate insights from cognitivemapping into their research [9]. Additionally, this research could contribute to a better understanding ofthe limits of mental representations, as it uniquely focuses on dynamic elements rather than static ones.
|
The record appears in these collections: |
PDF