Cognitive and Behavioral Adaptations To Perceived Crowding: A Panel Study of Coping and Displacement

This paper uses panel data of boaters at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore to test the relationship of perceived crowding in 1975 to attitude changes (cognitive coping strategies), and behavioral shifts (intrasite displacement and discontinued participation at the Apostle Islands) in the following decade, based on a hierarchical coping model. Those feeling less crowded in 1975 should use either no coping strategies or cognitive coping strategies in the face of increasing use. Those participants feeling more crowded in 1975 should be more likely to shift to less used locations within the same site when visitation increases. Finally, the model proposes that chose who feel most crowded will quit boating at the Apostle Islands. The panel data failed to support the model. Those who felt most crowded in 1975 avoided the more crowded islands on subsequent trips. The crowding scores of those who did not use cognitive coping strategies were not significantly different from those who did. Those who stopped boating at the Apostle Islands did not do so because they felt most crowded in 1975. These findings indicate that intrasite displacement provides an adequate coping strategy for boaters at the Apostle Islands. The notion that increasing use levels will necessarily drive the most sensitive users away is not supported among boaters at the Apostle Islands.