Framing and Reframing in Land Use Change Conflicts

Proposed changes to community land use frequently give rise to protracted disputes. Cognitive psychology, communication, and decision-making research suggests that frames, which filter people's perception of a problem, can affect conflict processes and outcomes. This paper argues that frames may significantly influence public participation in decisions to change a community's physical space. The kinds of frames likely to be found in such conflicts are examined using the example of a landfill dispute. Recommendations for identifying frames and responding to them are proposed for practitioners intervening in physical change conflicts.