Density and pathology in Stockholm and Copenhagen

Abstract

The link between increasing population and change in human pathological behavior within urban regions has been assumed by human ecologists and the public in general. However, recent evidence on North American cities by Galle, Gove and Mcpherson and Gillis has shown that overcrowding does not necessarily accompany urbanization or increases pathological behavior. They suggest that hypotheses that high density “causes” pathological behavior be more adequately evaluated to determine the relationships between the quality of life, pathology, and density changes. Current research evaluates the Galle et al. hypothesis using annual time series data from Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark (1945–73). The links between multiple measures of population density and overcrowding are explored using partial correlation. The results substantiated Galle et al. and Gillis’ conclusion concerning the nebulous link between density and social pathology.