In the late 1960s, ethologist John Calhoun conducted a notable experiment, Universe 25, which some say mirrors what we see in modern humans today. He placed eight mice in a safe and well-supplied enclosure designed to be a mouse paradise. Initially, the mice multiplied rapidly, leading to a population peak of about 2200 mice after a year.
Here’s where it gets interesting: Near the population peak, a shift in social dynamics occurred, known as the “behavioral sink.” The mice started showing signs of stress, became more aggressive, socially withdrawn, and avoided normal interactions. Female mice lost their interest in reproducing, and those that did stopped caring for their young, sometimes leaving them to die. Only a small group of dominant males reproduced, while the rest became uninterested in females, spending time alone and obsessively grooming themselves. Some engaged in forced mating, even with an abundance of food, and there were instances of same-sex forced mating and cannibalism.
These abnormal behaviors escalated, and the mice became fixated on their individual actions, ignoring the needs of the group. Ultimately, a societal collapse occurred, and by the 600th day, only a few mice remained, with no new generations being born. The last mouse perished, and Universe 25 went extinct.
This experiment from the 1960s has been replicated by scientists with different organisms, consistently yielding similar results. Observing the abnormal behaviors in modern humans, we can see a decline in healthy communities due to many people focusing on their individual actions and neglecting group needs.
What are your thoughts on this?
I genuinely do understand when clients say they’re looking for a change, but don’t know what it is yet or how to achieve it. Because I have been there, done that and thankfully was lucky enough to walk away to now be doing a job where I never have to think “Thank God it’s Friday (TGIF).”
