![]() Calhoun's rat studies were used as a basis in the development of Edward T. He spoke at conferences around the world and his opinion was sought by groups as diverse as NASA and the District of Columbia's Panel on overcrowding in local jails. During his studies, Calhoun coined the term " behavioral sink" to describe aberrant behaviors in overcrowded population density situations and "beautiful ones" to describe passive individuals who withdrew from all social interaction. He claimed that the bleak effects of overpopulation on rodents were a grim model for the future of the human race. It would be redundant to draw parallels between the experiment and a modern, developed society living in excess of goods, but without any other desire except limitless consumption.John Bumpass Calhoun (– September 7, 1995) was an American ethologist and behavioral researcher noted for his studies of population density and its effects on behavior. His study has been cited by writers such as Bill Perkins as a warning of the dangers of living in an “increasingly crowded and impersonal world.» He characterized the social breakdown as a “second death,” with reference to the “second death” mentioned in the Biblical book of Revelation 2:11. Each of the 25 experiments had the same outcome.Ĭalhoun saw the fate of the population of mice as a metaphor for the potential fate of mankind. Because it was Calhoun’s 25 th attempt of building mice’s utopia. He characterized the social breakdown as a “second death” On the 1,780th day of experiment, after the last mouse died. Mice started dying out, practicing homosexuality, cannibalism and showing unexplainably aggressive behaviour in the condition of excess of resources. This led to «beautiful» males and passive females becoming a majority and, consequently, birthrate falling to zero. They were totally passive, just eating, sleeping and cleaning themselves. A new type of society was formed – so called «beautiful» mice – males, who refused fighting for females or territory, mating or playing any other social roles. As a result, birthrate decreased and mortality among the young increased. They often killed their progeny and got solitary. Mice started dying out, practicing homosexuality, cannibalism and showing unexplainably aggressive behaviourįemales also became more aggressive due to lack of protection and refused to breed. A so called «outcast» group was formed: young mice without any certain social position, often attacked, without the desire to mate or protect their pregnant females. Due to absence of any diseases and unlimited food lifetime became much longer, older mice didn’t give up social roles for youngers. Quite soon population growth started slowing down and a clear social hierarchy formed. At the peak there were only 2,200 mice living together. But never during the experiment population reached its maximum even closely. ![]() ![]() They started to reproduce fast, understanding what a perfect place they are lucky to be inĪt the beginning the scientist placed 4 mouse couples in that complex and they started to reproduce fast, understanding what a perfect place they are lucky to be in. The box could accommodate more than 9,000 mice at the same time without the worsening of living conditions. ![]() In 1972, animal behaviorist John Calhoun built a complex, giant box for mice with perfect life conditions provided: unlimited delicious food and water, healthcare, ideal temperature, cozy places for living and breeding, waste sanitation was in place and the appearance of predators was excluded. ![]()
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