Wirth argues that three key characteristics of cities - large population size, social
heterogeneity, and population density - contribute to the development of a peculiarly “urban
way of life” and, indeed, a distinct “urban personality”.
For centuries casual observers have noted sharp personality differences between urban and
rural people and between nature-based and machine-based styles of living. Wirth attempts
to explain those differences in terms of the functional responses of urban dwellers to the
characteristic environmental conditions of modern urban society.
The rise of cities in the modern world is undoubtedly not independent of the emergence of
modern power-driven machine technology, mass production and capitalistic enterprise.
heterogeneity, and population density - contribute to the development of a peculiarly “urban
way of life” and, indeed, a distinct “urban personality”.
For centuries casual observers have noted sharp personality differences between urban and
rural people and between nature-based and machine-based styles of living. Wirth attempts
to explain those differences in terms of the functional responses of urban dwellers to the
characteristic environmental conditions of modern urban society.
The rise of cities in the modern world is undoubtedly not independent of the emergence of
modern power-driven machine technology, mass production and capitalistic enterprise.
