The Best in Your Tribe

I think overpopulation is an often ignored factor in mental health.  For example, many smaller schools across the country have been consolidated into larger ones.  Logical reasons are given for this, such as reduced costs and the centralization of resources.  But are larger schools better for children?  I don't think so.

Let's say a high school has 500 students and the normal assortment of extra-curricular activities: sports, music, theater, etc.  In this smaller school, many more students would have a chance to participate and excel in these activities.  Now transform this to a school with 2,000 students.  The person who was the star of the basketball team may now be a second-stringer.  The lead in the musical now plays a supporting role.  Four high schools of 500 leads to many more students being recognized than one high school of 2,000.

Some say that larger schools provide more competition and therefore spur more development.  Perhaps, but even if this is true is it worth it?  Won't students eventually find out how they stack up in the world as adults?  Why not let as many students bask in the glow of recognition while they have the chance?

Here's another example.  For a time, I was the best saxophone player in my high school.  Then one year I tried out for "all-state band" for the saxophone slot.  I didn't win it, I think I came in third or fourth.  Did this help me in any way?  No, if anything it was the opposite.  I would've rather not known how I compared to the rest of the state.  I was happy being number one in my town.

I think all this has roots in our hunter-gatherer mentality.  Hunter-gatherers existed in small tribes, and if one person exceled at something, they were probably the best in the tribe.  Their unique talents would be recognized and valued.

In modern times, we have to compete against an ever-growing mass of people.  And with the internet and global economy, the competition is now worldwide.  This "overpopulation" contributes greatly to mental health issues in my opinion.  I don't think anyone truly wants to be anonymous.  Everyone would like to feel special, like to feel valued for what they have to offer.  Yet society can take this feeling away from people by sticking them in giant, anonymous cities, where each person is a tiny cog in the wheel.

What's the answer to this?  I'm not sure.  From what I've seen, this trend doesn't appear to be slowing.  For example, Los Angeles is predicted to add another 3 million people over the next twenty years (where they will fit these people in LA is a mystery to me).  Perhaps telecommuting will take off and then people will be able to move back to smaller, less dense areas.

For further reading on this, I would recommend Robert Wright's excellent essay, "The Evolution of Despair".