The Impact of Self-Sufficient Living and Community Formation Experienced during Jungle Stays on Changes in Preconceived Notions

Abstract

This study investigates how self-sufficient living and temporary community formation during jungle stays affect the transformation of preconceived notions. Based on fieldwork conducted on Iriomote Island in Japan, the research incorporates autoethnography, interviews, and participant observation. Findings suggest that embodied trial and error in unfamiliar environments fosters a relativization of urban classifications and encourages re-meaning processes. These changes may contribute to the recovery of cognitive flexibility and the reconsideration of informational relationships in everyday life.