Date of Award

4-1988

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication

First Advisor

John Wanzenried

Second Advisor

Dennis Fus

Third Advisor

Larry Bradshaw

Abstract

For an environment to produce a change in attitude, or at least begin that transformation, it is necessary to view it as part of the communication/persuasion process. Environments both reflect communication and modulate it, channel it, control it, facilitate it, or even inhibit it (Rapoport, 1982). Environmental meaning is often expressed through signs, materials, colors, forms, sizes, furnishings, landscaping, maintenance, and even in some instances, by people themselves (Bachelard, 1969; Blomeyer, 1979; Cralik, 1976). Therefore, spatial meanings or messages can be conveyed by walls or other sharp breaks, or by transitions (Reed, 1974). Thus, environment can produce a sense of "belonging" (Brebner, 1982) which adds to the comfort felt in the milieu. All people seem to share a need for comfort in their environment, but it is significant that people seem to define "comfort" or "belonging" according to perceptual filters that are definitely their own (Broadbent, Bunt, and Jencks [Eds.J, 1980).

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Department of Communication and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha.

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