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Would you rather live in a small town or a big city? I’m sure you've heard the age-old question. Let’s investigate further the psychology behind this question.
To start, how do you make a choice? Just scratching from the surface, those who choose small town, usually value its quiet life and privacy. The intimacy of everyone-knows-everyone and the feeling of being in a bubble outside of the hustle and bustle of a city can be comforting. With long winding roads and aged forests, smaller towns are perceived to have a serene ambiance.
Small towns allow residents to be farther away from the lifeline of society, whereas big cities push the thrumming heartbeat of the population right to your front door. Big cities are both diurnal and nocturnal, so no matter when residents choose to work, the city will work alongside them. Big cities will attract people from all walks of life and offer events to cater to every interest, opening doors for everyone to find a community to connect to.
We can establish that there are pros and cons to both options. But the psychology behind the two options can be quite complex, going beyond just the surface. Sociologist Georg Simmel suggests that humans are not built to live in big cities. He compares the human nervous system to an electrical circuit and points out that if a circuit is overstimulated for a prolonged period, it will cease to function. Simmel explains that a stimulated city-resident will lose excitement for life because of a fried circuit. Research backs up Simmel's theories, with a study conducted in 2010 by Dutch researchers finding that people who live in big cities are 11% more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders and 39% more likely to suffer from mood disorders than people who live in small towns.
To counter that: Going off of personal experience and nearly every coming-of-age movie, no one who grows up in a small town seems to want to stay in one. Maybe it's just human nature to want what’s unattainable, but the city lifestyle, compared to a calm small town, seems like it could offer so much more. After living in a small town for one’s entire life and knowing the ins and outs of the area, there aren't many new experiences to find or ways to challenge yourself as you grow.
What does this all mean? Which is really better than the other? I believe it depends on the stage of your life. A basic part of human life is growing up and expanding your horizons. Although it is possible in a small town, staying in one for your whole life will ultimately limit your perspective. Of course, there’s no need to stay in a big city until your wires are fried, but learning how to live in a new environment will offer new perspectives on the world and will broaden your horizons as an individual. No matter where you end up, know that there are no wrong options and the best you can do, is to adapt to new surroundings and learn from your experiences.
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