Effects of Overcrowding on Mental Health and Human Behaviour

1. NEGATIVE
PSYCHOLOGI
CAL ASPECTS
OF
OVERCROWDI
NG IN CITIES
Shajeeah Daarain

2. OVERCROWDING
Overcrowding or crowding is typically characterized as
the presence of too many people in the available space
and facilities. Overcrowding can occur on a temporary or
daily basis, at home, in public spaces or in public
transport. It can affect all sections of the population, both
directly and indirectly. The definition and measurement of
overcrowding differs greatly between continents, nations,
regions and communities, and depends on various
factors such as cultural , social , economic, geographical
etc.
Environmental psychologists study how human behavior
and the physical environment interrelate. Decision
making and behavior make an impact on environmental
quality. The physical environment also affects behavior.
Crowding illustrates how the physical environment can
affect human behavior.
PRESENTATION TITLE 2

3. PSYCHOLOGICAL
EFFECTS OF
OVERCROWDING
Direct and indirect psychological effects result from
overcrowding:
● Overcrowding leads to psychological distress,
which, in turn, has an effect on behavioral
responses and the ability to cope with the
conditions.
● Lack of privacy is linked to depression and other
negative psychological consequences.
● Crowded household does not allow children or
dependents to receive care they may require.
NEGATIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF OVERCROWDING IN
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4. PSYCHOLOGICAL
EFFECTS OF
OVERCROWDING
Psychological tension produced in environments of
high population density, especially when individuals
feel that the amount of space available to them is
insufficient for their needs. Crowding may have a
damaging effect on mental health and may result in
poor performance of complex tasks, stressor
aftereffects, and increased physiological stress. In
animals, crowding can lead to impaired
reproduction, decreased life expectancy, and a
variety of pathological behaviors. Two key
mechanisms underlying crowding are lack of control
over social interaction (i.e., privacy) and the
deterioration of socially supportive relationships.
NEGATIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF OVERCROWDING IN
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5. CONTINUED
The most common reaction to crowding is stress, particularly over time
and in an important space like home. For example when it is crowded,
people typically have negative feelings such as anxiety and frustration
about restricted behavioral options. Our choices of what, where, and
when we do things are constrained. If these restrictions are experienced
repeatedly, crowding can also lead to feelings of helplessness wherein
we start to question our own ability to effectively manage the
environment. Studies in India and in the United States have found that
children and adolescents who live in more crowded homes,
independent of socioeconomic status, are less likely to persist on
challenging puzzles, giving up sooner than those living under
uncrowded conditions.
NEGATIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF OVERCROWDING IN
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6. OVERCROWDED
CITIES
1. Manila (46,178 Persons Per Sq. Km)
2. Pateros (36,447 Persons Per Sq. Km)
3. Mandaluyong (4,925 Persons Per Sq. Km)
4. Baghdad (32,874 Persons Per Sq. Km)
5. Mumbai (32,303 Persons Per Sq. Km)
6. Dhaka (29,069 Persons Per Sq. Km)
7. Caloocan (27,989 Persons Per Sq. Km)
8. Port-Au-Prince (27,395 Persons Per Sq. Km)
9. Bnei Brak (27,338 Persons Per Sq. Km)
10.Levallois-Perret (26,713 Persons Per Sq. Km)
PRESENTATION TITLE 2/11/20XX 6

7. THANK YOU
Shajeeah Daarain
NEGATIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF OVERCROWDING IN
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