The characteristic apathy of many urban dwellers is quite probably linked to the fact that one must compartmentalize one’s role-playing to carry on an effective urban existence. Competing claims upon individual results in disinvolvement from a large segment of the social world.

The most important characteristic of collective behaviour in urban environment is dense anonymity. The results of which may be tragic, such as riots or crowd behaviour.

At the same time, the juxtaposition of divergent personalities and modes of life tends to produce a relativistic perspective and a sense of toleration of difference which may be regarded as prerequisites for rationality and which lead towards the secularization of life.