A shock city is defined as, “a city in a given historical period that had symbolic significance reflecting both awe at spectacular growth and technical progress, while also raising deep concerns about emerging economic, political, and social problems.” Chicago, Illinois was known as the shock city of the Industrial Revolution during the twentieth century. The city experienced a rapid population growth, reaching over 3.5 million by the year 1930, containing a metropolis of people from rural America, as well as eastern and southern Europe. With this fast growing population came an increase in other demands, such as street and transportation systems, fire and police protection, schools, sanitary water supplies, sewage systems, among others. During …show more content…
Wirth’s definition of urbanism noted that a city was depicted through a unique outline of behavior, which included the factors of size, density, and heterogeneity of the population. To Wirth, primary group interactions appear less important due to the development of secondary relationships in an urban environment. This results in diminishing relationships with kinship such as family, neighbors, and friends, that will then weaken social bonds within the community. Wirth’s negative point of view in regards to the impact of the city and urban life on individuals is known as the “determinist theory.” The basic stance of his theory states that, “the causal variables of ‘size, density, and heterogeneity’ determine both community and psychological outcomes.” Wirth felt that a community with weak social bonds will produce individual’s experiencing feelings of alienation and …show more content…
Herbert Gans’ demonstrates standard thought of a compositionalist when challenging Wirth’s determinist theory. Gans’ has strong feelings against Wirth’s ideal of “urbanism as a way of life,” stating that size, density, and heterogeneity do not explain the ways of urban life. Instead, Gans’ states that there are an average of five urban ways of life, all of which vary depending on social class and the stage in which each family is presently in. His classifications include; Cosmopolites, The unmarried or childless, Ethnic villages, The deprived, and The trapped and downwardly mobile. His theory includes economic factors, cultural factors, and stages in the life cycle. The cosmopolites are usually artistic and include intellectual professional people, such as writers or artists. The unmarried or childless are viewed as the most powerful members within the city. Those considered a part of the deprived population usually end up in the city because they have no other choice; they are generally either poor, emotionally unstable or handicapped. The trapped and downwardly mobile remain in the city because they don’t have the financial means to relocate themselves or their families. Gans’ theory generally states that urban enclaves protect individuals from feelings of alienation that