Geography
Urbanization and the Emergence of Anonymity in Social Interactions
Quick fact
Sociologist Georg Simmel argued that urban dwellers develop a 'blasé attitude' as a psychological defense against the overwhelming stimuli of city life, making them more reserved and indifferent to strangers—a direct manifestation of urban anonymity.
Why this is interesting
In a small village, you can't walk down the street without greeting everyone you meet. But in a city of millions, you can ride a bus for an hour and never speak a word—how did that become possible?