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This recent peer reviewed paper showed up as a reference in an article I was skimming so I gave it a read.
The abstract I will list below. My apologies for not linking to the full text but it's behind a paywall (oddly my grad school credentials still work) :https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31389169
I vaguely remember this being discussed in an undergrad intro psychology class I took as a Gen Ed, but not in any sort of depth.
So, this begs the question, why do people in cities go nuts at a disproportionately higher rate?
I know when I had to live in a city, I was never so lonely in my life. People all around you, people you talked to, worked with, interacted with, but there was always a wall. People seemed to be completely self absorbed in their own little worlds, and only briefly acknowledged others they came in contact with.
I was raised very country where your neighbors were family. You worked with each other, shared resources, went to functions together, shared births, deaths, marriages, you shared your lives and it's joys and sorrows. You depended on each other.
In a city, if you want to move, you hire someone. If you need help with a job, you hire someone. If you feel sad, you go to a therapist. If you need advice on your finances, you hire a financial advisor. Someone to watch the kids? There's a daycare. Tinker on your car? Go to the mechanic.
The only times you interact with other people in a city it seems it's because you're paying them.
The psychological isolation of a city is a mind killer. I don't blame people that live there for going off the deep end.
I moved back to the country and I've reconnected with people again. I've never been happier.
I read another study that said people in urban areas were more intelligent than rural dwellers.
Not saying there is a connection between psychosis and intelligence.
I'm rural and intelligent (no psychosis), not attracted to big cities, tried one didn't like it.
Also don't like very small towns where everyone knows everything, a little anonymity is nice.
I read another study that said people in urban areas were more intelligent than rural dwellers.
I would imagine that's because higher paying skilled jobs are located in cities and they draw more of the educated people away from the rural areas.
As far as why do people go nuts more often in cities, I firmly believe that in spite of being social creatures people really aren't wired to live on top of each other in very dense areas. It's too competitive and creates undue tension and stress on a lot of people.
There’s no mystery. Potentially crazy people move to the cities when they can’t cope in rural areas and when things don’t improve they act out and come to the attention of police or mental health professionals. They just are considered odd and have less access to services in rural areas. You will also notice, if you frequent major cities, that there are scores of homeless people in the cities. Many of them are transients with mental health issues.
I know when I had to live in a city, I was never so lonely in my life. People all around you, people you talked to, worked with, interacted with, but there was always a wall. People seemed to be completely self absorbed in their own little worlds, and only briefly acknowledged others they came in contact with.
I was raised very country where your neighbors were family. You worked with each other, shared resources, went to functions together, shared births, deaths, marriages, you shared your lives and it's joys and sorrows. You depended on each other.
In a city, if you want to move, you hire someone. If you need help with a job, you hire someone. If you feel sad, you go to a therapist. If you need advice on your finances, you hire a financial advisor. Someone to watch the kids? There's a daycare. Tinker on your car? Go to the mechanic.
The only times you interact with other people in a city it seems it's because you're paying them.
The psychological isolation of a city is a mind killer. I don't blame people that live there for going off the deep end.
I moved back to the country and I've reconnected with people again. I've never been happier.
This.
Plus, a lotta talk about inclusiveness, yet little acceptance for people that are a little offbeat. Certain behaviours and mannerisms can make you a magnet for assault and crime, which exacerbates isolation. Politics has embedded itself into everything like the tentacles of a box jellyfish. Very claustrophobic. If you can successfully shut that all out, and be successful without a solid foundation, you're likely to be dancing on the edge of sanity.
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