Time-Space Distanciation: An Interdisciplinary Account of How Culture Shapes the Implicit and Explicit Psychology of Time and Space

The growing body of research on temporal and spatial experience lacks a comprehensive theoretical approach. Drawing on Giddens’ framework, we present time‐space distanciation (TSD) as a construct for theorizing the relations between culture, time, and space. TSD in a culture may be understood as the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for the theory of social behaviour 2016-12, Vol.46 (4), p.450-474
Main Authors: Sullivan, Daniel, Keefer, Lucas A., Stewart, Sheridan A., Palitsky, Roman
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case studies
Concept formation
Cultural differences
cultural psychology
Culture
Ethnography
Giddens, Anthony
Interdisciplinary aspects
mobility
modernization
Psychological aspects
Psychology
Social construction
space
Spacetime
Time
Time use
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Summary:The growing body of research on temporal and spatial experience lacks a comprehensive theoretical approach. Drawing on Giddens’ framework, we present time‐space distanciation (TSD) as a construct for theorizing the relations between culture, time, and space. TSD in a culture may be understood as the extent to which (1) time and space are ed as separate dimensions and (2) activities are extended and organized across time and space. After providing a historical account of its development, we outline a multi‐level conceptualization of TSD supported by research on cultural differences in the experience of time and space. We impact this conceptualization by examining two ethnographic case studies. We conclude by highlighting future research directions. TSD is an integrative, interdisciplinary, multi level construct with the potential to guide the burgeoning social science of time and space.
ISSN:0021-8308
1468-5914
DOI:10.1111/jtsb.12103