Psychogeography is "The study of specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organised or not, on the emotions and behaviour of individuals", according to the article Preliminary Problems in Constructing a Situation, in Situationniste Internationale No. 1 (1958).
Psychogeographers in the West, ie Europe and America, have traditionally formed in groups or associations, sometimes consisting of just one member. Known groups, some of whom are still operating, include
- Manchester Area Psychogeographic
- Nottingham Psychogeographical Unit
- Greenwich Psychogeographical Order
- London Psychogeographical Association
- evoL PsychogeogrAphix
- New York Psychogeographical Association
- The Washington Psychogeography Association
- Brooklyn Psychogeographical Association
- Virtual Psychogeographical Association
There has historically been a division within the body of psychogeographers, with various factions being labelled academic, occultist, avant-garde, new age, recuperators and some revolutionary.
In May, 2003, psychogeographers from the Western countries gathered in New York for the first Psy-Geo-Conflux, an annual event dedicated to current artistic and social investigations in psychogeography. This was timed to coincide with a Talk:Cartographic Congress in Limehouse, London.
See also: Situationists, Lettrists
