Emotions in planning practice: A critical review and a suggestion for future developments based on mindfulness

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

António Cunha Ferreira (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Town Planning Review

Vol. 84 No. 6

Pages: 703-719

ISSN: 0041-0020

Publisher: Liverpool University Press

Indexing

Scopus - 19 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-9QG

DOI: 10.3828/tpr.2013.37

Abstract (EN): Planners typically conceptualise themselves as professionals not emotionally engaged with their work. However, in planning practice, there are many discretionary decisions to make and these are easily affected by emotions. The uncomfortable truth is that planning practice is emotionally loaded, but scepticism about emotions discourages research on the topic. Academic research based on psychoanalytical theory has been developed in response to this. This research seems, however, to have little power to provide high quality practical tools for professional planners. Mindfulness theory and training is presented here as a better alternative to equip practitioners with resources to deal with emotions at work.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific