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Consequences of Population Density and Size

University of Michigan

Ralph B. Taylor

Johns Hopkins University

The classical theory about effects of high residential density is "negative," stating that high density produces negative social attitudes and undesirable behaviors. Yet empirical re search usually finds density only weakly related to individuals' attitudes and behavior. A survey was conducted in Baltimore for three purposes: to test "negative" hypotheses for new dependent variables; to determine if negative density effects appear only when certain "buffers" are weak; and to test hypotheses about "positive" effects of density. Results show that large population size and feelings that an area is overpopulated produce frustrations about the environment. Objective density has some negative and positive effects, but it is less important than population size, subjective appraisal of population, and population composition. Compared to prior research, the special contributions of the Baltimore study are examination of (1) population size, (2) "positive" consequences of high density and large size, and (3) effects in three distinct residential areas.

Urban Affairs Review, Vol. 16, No. 2, 135-160 (1980)
DOI: 10.1177/107808748001600202


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