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Premonitory signs of social collapse: Why Calhoun's research should make us fear overpopulation.
In today's world, overpopulation has gradually become a reality that no one can ignore. However, what are the deeper implications of this issue? John B. Calhoun's research may give us some inspiration. His behavioral sink theory describes the behavioral collapse that animals, and even humans, may experience in overcrowded environments.
Calhoun's Experiment
Calhoun's early experiments began in 1947 on a farm in Maryland, USA. Between 1958 and 1962, he conducted a series of overpopulation experiments on Norway rats, creating what he called a "rat utopia" in which the rats had unlimited access to food and water, which allowed their population to grow rapidly.
In these groups of mice, Calhoun observed the emergence of a new social behavior he called behavioral sinking.
In these experiments, the social structure of mice was disrupted and the interaction patterns between individuals gradually changed. Many female mice were unable to successfully conceive and give birth, and even after giving birth successfully, they were unable to fulfill their maternal duties, while the behavior of male mice ranged from sexual deviant to cannibalism.
The impact of behavioral depravity
Under conditions of high population density, the rat population exhibited extremely abnormal behavior. For example, rats only eat in groups, causing one dining area to be overcrowded while other areas appear deserted.
The results of this experiment were shocking: in the most lost group, the mortality rate of young mice was as high as 96%.
Calhoun also conducted another experiment on rats in 1968, this time called Universe 25, in which the rat population reached 2,200, despite the design of the environment. The original intention was to support the reproductive needs of up to 4,000 mice. Eventually, in this densely populated environment, the rat population became extinct.
Revelation to Humanity
Kalhoun makes clear that such experiments are not just for mice. His conclusion triggered deep reflection on human society. Calhoun's experiment used the social behavior of animals as a metaphor for humanity's future fate, warning humans of potential "spiritual death." He believes that when human societies face overcrowding, they may also use similar behavioral patterns to lead to social collapse.
At the time, Calhoun's main concerns were conflicts in human society and the dysfunctions that resulted from such conflicts.
Over time, however, the interpretation of Calhoun's research has become complicated. Some psychologists have conducted similar experiments and failed to find significant negative effects, questioning Calhoun's conclusions. However, the limited samples and scenarios are too simplistic, and this topic still needs to be carefully examined.
Current social context
In today's society, overpopulation still exists, especially in urban areas. Although the development of modern technology and the Internet has made our lives more convenient, it has also directly affected changes in human fertility and social structure. At this point, one can't help but wonder whether overcrowding will lead to a recurrence of the situation described by Calhoun in the future?
Some people believe that this type of research provides us with new ideas for reflecting on human behavior and social organization, and we should pay more attention to the quality of social interaction rather than just the quantity. Calhoun's work is not only an observation of animal behavior, but also a warning about the profound impact on social structure.
Thinking about the future
Today, with the continuous growth of the global population, we need to find effective solutions to the population problem. From Calhoun’s research, can we recognize the fragility of human behavior and adjust our own social behavior accordingly to avoid repeating the same mistakes? At a time when society and demographics are undergoing major changes, how should future generations face this challenge?
