Historic Mouse Study Offers Grim Insights into Human Future

Smithsonian Magazine
Smithsonian Magazine
1y ago • 335 views
A 1960s experiment by John B. Calhoun, involving mice in a controlled environment, predicted dire consequences for human behavior and societal structure when exposed to overpopulation and resource saturation.
Historic Mouse Study Offers Grim Insights into Human Future
A What happened
A 1960s experiment by John B. Calhoun, involving mice in a controlled environment, predicted dire consequences for human behavior and societal structure when exposed to overpopulation and resource saturation.

Key insights

  • 1

    The Experiment Setup: Calhoun created a 'mouse utopia' with unlimited food, water, and bedding for the rodents, predicting that the population would grow exponentially until overcrowding occurred.

  • 2

    Behavioral Sink: The term 'behavioral sink' was coined from this experiment, describing the collapse in social behaviors and the rise in aggression, social withdrawal, and reproductive issues as the population density increased.

  • 3

    Parallels to Human Society: Calhoun's findings suggested that similar patterns could emerge in human societies as urban populations grow and social structures become strained, leading to potential societal breakdown.

Topics

Science & Research Research