Metropolis and Mental Life

"Metropolis and Mental Life," a work by sociologist Georg Simmel, explores how urban environments shape human psychology. In cities, individuals encounter rapid stimuli, diverse interactions, and anonymity, which foster a more detached, pragmatic mindset. People develop mental strategies—like maintaining emotional distance—to cope with the intensity and impersonality of city life. This urban existence encourages a mentality focused on efficiency and individuality, contrasting with the more community-oriented or emotionally connected rural life. Simmel's analysis highlights how the bustling, heterogeneous urban setting influences modern people's inner lives and social behaviors.