Cramped Condos and the Rise of Unfriendly Neighbours | The Walrus

"A growing body of research since then has found a correlation between living in high-density urban environments and increased rates of social isolation, due to factors including a lack of secure tenure in rental buildings, poor architectural design, a dearth of green space and limited access to nature, and stigma related to cultural values that equate high-density housing with lower social status."

"All this is leading to what researchers have termed the "emerging asocial society"-that is, a society in which people aren't just lonely but have actually lost the motivation or skill necessary to engage in healthy social connections. This has profound implications for individual health and well-being and for the health and well-being of our cities."

""As things stand, this will bring increased trends of urban alienation, asocial and antisocial behaviours, loneliness and social isolation, marginalization, nuisance and exacerbated vulnerabilities," warns one 2022 knowledge synthesis on the topic."

A 2012 Vancouver Foundation survey revealed that as cities densified to address housing crises, residents reported feeling less connected to neighbors. Subsequent research confirms a correlation between high-density urban living and social isolation, attributed to factors including insecure rental tenure, poor architectural design, limited green space and nature access, and cultural stigma around high-density housing. This trend contributes to an emerging asocial society where people lose motivation and skills for healthy social connections. Researchers warn this will increase urban alienation, antisocial behaviors, loneliness, marginalization, and vulnerability. Historically, neighbor interdependency was essential for survival and community development, forcing people to resolve conflicts and maintain relationships. Modern urban design has eliminated this necessity.

Read at The Walrus